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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:545-547 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.127910
  • Original Article

A new advanced glycation inhibitor, LR-90, prevents experimental diabetic retinopathy in rats

  1. A Bhatwadekar1,
  2. J V Glenn1,
  3. J L Figarola2,
  4. S Scott2,
  5. T A Gardiner1,
  6. S Rahbar2,
  7. A W Stitt1
  1. 1
    Centre for Vision Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BA, Northern Ireland
  2. 2
    Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Gonda Building, City of Hope National Medical Centre, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
  1. Professor A W Stitt, Centre for Vision Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road Belfast BT 126BA, Northern Ireland, UK; a.stitt{at}qub.ac.uk
  • Accepted 15 December 2007
  • Published Online First 22 January 2008

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is associated with accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the retinal microvasculature. LR-90 is an effective multistage inhibitor of advanced glycation with renoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.

Aim: To explore the role of LR-90 in the progression of experimental diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with LR-90 (50 mg/l in drinking water) for up to 32 weeks. At the end of the study, eyes were enucleated and subjected to trypsin digestion and staining with light green/haematoxylin. Acellular capillaries and pericytes were quantified in random fields using light microscopy.

Results: In the LR-90-treated diabetic animals, acellular capillary numbers were reduced to 1.63 (0.20) from 2.58 (0.49) (p<0.05) in diabetic controls. LR-90 treatment also restored the pericyte deficit from 18.12 (0.98) in diabetic rats to 24.19 (0.76) (p<0.001).

Conclusion: These findings show that LR-90 can effectively inhibit important lesions of diabetic retinopathy. This agent has potential for preventing retinopathy in patients with diabetes.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: City of Hope National Medical Centre is applying for a patent for this molecule.

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