Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on type Ⅱ diabetic retinopathy in rats. Methods: To establish type Ⅱ diabetic rat models, male SD rats fed high fat diet for 4 weeks were injected with streptozotocin (STZ, 0.01 mol/L, 30 mg/(kg?d)). The diabetic rats were randomly divided into diabetes-vehicle group (DM control group), three GSPE-treated groups. Normal rats were enrolled as normal control group. The low, medium and high-dose GSPE-treated groups were administrated at 125, 250 mg/(kg?d) and 500 mg/(kg?d), respectively. DM control group and normal control group were given equal volume of distilled water. After 16 weeks, body weight, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured. HE stain retina paraffin section was examined under a microscope. Receptor for RAGEs was detected by SP immunohistochemical method. Results: There was no difference (P ＞ 0.05) between DM control group and GSPE-treated groups. Compared with DM control group, AGEs in GSPE high dose group were decreased (P ＜ 0.05), ICAM-1 (all GSPE-treated groups) and VCAM-1 (GSPE low and high dose groups) were decreased (P ＜ 0.05). The retina of GSPE-treated groups had fewer damaged areas and lower RAGE expression in histology. Conclusion: GSPE has a positive effect on type Ⅱ diabetic retinopathy in rats.

Key words: grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), diabetic retinopathy (DR), advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), inflammatory factor