AIM: To investigate the effect of Ghrelin on oxidative stress induced by high glucose in human retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)cells.

METHODS: RPE cells were cultured and divided into the negative control group, high sugar group, Ghrelin low dose group(10^-9 mol/L)and high dose group(10^-6 mol/L). Cells survival rate were detected by CCK-8 colorimetry, cells oxidative damage were observed by oxygen sensitive fluorescence probe H₂DCFDA staning, changes of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)were detected by H₂DCFDA staining, super oxide dismutase(SOD)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)content were detected by spectrophotometer colorimetry.

RESULTS: CCK-8 results showed that RPE cells survival rate increased to 54.79%±3.43% and 79.16%±3.29% after treated with 10^-9 mol/L, 10^-6 mol/L Ghrelin, the difference was statistically significant compared with high glucose group(41.65%±3.42%)(P<0.05). H₂DCFDA fluorescent probe dying showed that Ghrelin reduced ROS generation in RPE cells and decreased oxidative damage cells. Spectrophotometer colorimetric method showed that according to the high sugar group, SOD activity increased and MDA content decreased in Ghrelin group.

CONCLUSION: Ghrelin could inhibit high glucose-induced oxidative damage in human RPE cells, which has protective effect on the process of the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy.