Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39215295›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2024

Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) protects against retinal cell apoptosis and preserves visual behavior in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy.

You Goh, Muhammad Zulfiqah Sadikan, Heethal Jaiprakash, Nurul Alimah Abdul Nasir, Renu Agarwal, Igor Iezhitsa, Nafeeza Mohd Ismail

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Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

You GohSchool of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6640-0240
Muhammad Zulfiqah SadikanDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Bukit Baru, Melaka, 75150, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1216-8217
Heethal JaiprakashSchool of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. heethaljp@gmail.com.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9948-4428
Nurul Alimah Abdul NasirCentre for Neuroscience Research (NeuRon), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, 47000, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4285-7059
Renu AgarwalSchool of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3050-7449
Igor IezhitsaSchool of Medicine, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2852-8486
Nafeeza Mohd IsmailCentre for Neuroscience Research (NeuRon), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, 47000, Malaysia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8362-748X

Funding

FRGS, Government of Malaysia FRGS/1/2020/SKK0/IMU/02/7International Medical University BMS I/2020(05)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTocotrienol is a vitamin E analogue that is known to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Hence, in the current study, the effects of TRF on the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat retinas were investigated. The effect of TRF on the visual behaviour of rats was also studied.

methodsDiabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and was confirmed by a blood sugar level of at least 20 mmol/L, 48 h, post-injection. Diabetic rats were divided into a group treated with vehicle (DV) and the other treated with TRF (100 mg/kg; DT). A group of non-diabetic rats treated with vehicle (N) served as the control group. All treatments were administered orally for 12 weeks. Rats were then subjected to an assessment of general behaviour in an open field arena and a two-chamber mirror test to assess their visual behaviour. At the end of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed, and their retinas were isolated to measure the expression of pro- (Casp3, Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2) markers using RT-qPCR and ELISA. TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptotic retinal cells.

resultsTreatment with TRF lowered the retinal expression of Casp3 protein by 2.26-folds (p < 0.001) and Bax protein by 2.18-fold (p < 0.001) compared to vehicle-treated rats. The retinal anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 expression was 1.87-fold higher in DT compared to DV rats (p < 0.001). Accordingly, the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in the TRF-treated group was significantly greater in DT compared to DV rats. Retinal Casp3, Bax, and Bcl2 gene expression, as determined by RT-qPCR, also showed changes corresponding to protein expression. In the open field test, DV rats showed greater anxiety-related behaviour than group N, while the behaviour of DT rats was similar to the N group of rats. DT rats and group N rats preferred the inverse mirror chamber over the mirror-containing chamber in the two-mirror chamber test (p < 0.01).

conclusionOral TRF therapy for 12 weeks lowers retinal cell apoptosis by decreasing pro- and increasing anti-apoptotic markers. The preservation of visual behaviour in a two-chamber mirror test supported these retinal molecular alterations in diabetic rats.

Indexed as

ApoptosisDiabetes Mellitus, ExperimentalDiabetic RetinopathyRetinaTocotrienolsAnimalsbcl-2-Associated X ProteinCaspase 3MaleRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyRats, WistarStreptozocinbcl-2-Associated X ProteinCaspase 3StreptozocinTocotrienolsApoptosisDiabetic retinopathyTocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF)Visual behaviour

Identifiers

PMID39215295
PMCPMC11365272

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