AIM: To investigate the effects of Rhodiola sachalinensis on ocular blood flow in diabetic retinopathy rats.

METHODS: A total of 90 SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=30), model group(n=30)and intervention group(n=30). Rats in the model group and intervention group were fed with high glucose and high fat diet and injected with streptozotocin(40mg/kg)in order to construct DR model rats, while rats in the control group were fed with basic diet and injected with the same amount of normal saline. After 4wk, the rats in the intervention group were injected with Rhodiola sachalinensis injection(10mL, one per day), while rats in the control group and the model group were injected with normal saline. The course of intervention treatment was 4wk. The ocular blood flow in rats was detected by laser doppler flowmetry, the apoptosis of retinal cells in rats was detected by TUNEL method, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and glutamate/aspartate transporter(GLAST)in retina of rats was detected by RT-PCR method and Western blot method.

RESULTS: The whole blood viscosity, whole blood high shear viscosity, low shear blood viscosity and erythrocyte sedimentation of rats in the model group and intervention group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.01), while the indexes of intervention group were lower than that of model group(P<0.01). The PSV and EDC of rats in the model group and intervention group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.01), and the RI was higher than that in control group(P<0.01). The PSV and EDC in the intervention group were higher than those in the model group(P<0.01), and RI was lower than that in the model group(P<0.01). The apoptosis rate of retinal cells of model group and intervention group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.01), that in the intervention group was lower than that in the model group(P<0.01). The expression of VEGF and GFAP in retina tissue of model group and intervention group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.01), and the expression of GLAST was lower than that in the control group(P<0.01). The expression of VEGF and GFAP in the intervention group was lower than that in the model group(P<0.01), and the expression of GLAST was higher than that in the model group(P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Rhodiola sachalinensis injection can significantly improve the ocular blood flow in diabetic retinopathy rats, reduce the apoptosis of retinal cells in rats, down regulate the expression of VEGF and GFAP, and up regulate the expression of GLAST.