AIM: To observe the effects of puerarin of different concentrations on relaxing and contraction factors produced by cultured bovine retinal vascular endothelial cells(RVECs).

METHODS: The eighth generation of bovine RVECs was used for the research. The RVECs were cultivated in nutrient solution with different concentrations of puerarin in experimental group and in nutrient solution without drug, growth factor and serum in the control group. Expressions of eNOS and ET-1 in each group were measured by Western blotting method after 48h.

RESULTS:Compared with the negative comparison group, relative expression of eNOS in puerarin group increased(P<0.01), and eNOS expression also enhanced with the increase of the concentration of drugs; the ET-1 relative expressions of puerarin group decreased(P<0.01), and ET-1 expression also decreased with the increase of the concentration of drugs.

CONCLUSION:By up-regulating eNOS expression, down-regulating the ET-1 expression and regulating vascular nitric oxide endothelin(NO/ET)ratio, puerarin can relax retinal vascular smooth muscle.