AIM: To explore the role and underlying mechanisms of nogo receptor(NgR)on the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cell in rats with diabetes mellitus(DM).

METHODS: SD rats were used for inducing DM models by administrating streptozotocin. Studies were performed with control group, DM group, siNgR group: DM rats intravitreal administration of anti-NgR nucleotide, and siRNA control group: DM rats intravitreally administrated with negative nucleotide. One month later, TUNEL staining was conducted to detect apoptosis of retinal ganglion cell(RGC), level of retinal malondialdehyde(MDA)were detected with kit, and expression of NgR and caspase-3 were observed with Western blot.

RESULTS: The level of retinal MDA in control group, DM group, siNgR group and siRNA control group were 3.74±0.49, 7.21±0.96, 6.41±1.34 and 4.02±0.53nmol/mg prot respectively. A significant increase in the number of TUNEL-positive RGC, the expression of retinal NgR and caspase-3, and the level of retinal MDA were detected in DM and siNgR groups compared with control group(P<0.05). However, the number of TUNEL-positive RGC, the expression of retinal NgR and caspase-3, and the level of retinal MDA showed no difference between control group and siNgR group(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: NgR induces retinal oxidative stress and up-regulation of retinal caspase-3, playing an important role in the apoptosis of diabetic RGC.