AIM: To observe the effect of curcumin on the retinal structure and the expressions of interleukin-23(IL-23)and interleukin-17(IL-17)in the rat retina after retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury(RIRI).

METHODS:A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into normal control group(NCG), model group(MG), low-dose curcumin group(LDCG)and high-dose curcumin group(HDCG)(n=15 per group). RIRI was generated by anterior chamber perfusion of normal saline to the right eye. Rats in LDCG and HDCG received an intraperitoneal injection of 20mg/kg/d and 100mg/kg/d curcumin respectively, at 30min before RIRI and once daily after RIRI. Retinal structure and inflammation were evaluated after hematoxylin and eosin-stained(HE)staining. Western-blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)were used to measure the level of IL-23 and IL-17 expressions after RIRI.

RESULTS: The retinal structure of NCG was normal. Retinal edema, empty spaces or loosely packed cells and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in MG and LDCG groups, whereas the morphological changes in HDCG group were improved as compared to MG and LDCG groups. Western-blot assay and ELISA showed that IL-23 and IL-17 expressions increased significantly after RIRI(vs NCG, P<0.01). Moreover, curcumin reduced IL-23 and IL-17 expressions significantly(vs MG, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Curcumin can inhibit leukocytes infiltration and improve the retinal pathologic changes. Furthermore, curcumin can reduce retinal IL-23 and IL-17 expressions significantly in a dose-dependent manner.