Establishment of Alloxan-induced Diabetic New Zealand White Rabbit Model and the Assessment of Taurine on the Protection of Diabetes-Related Eye Disorders

• Main Authors: Shang-Min Yeh, 葉上民
• Other Authors: Chuan-Mu Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/00635727731614686600

碩士 === 中興大學 === 生命科學院碩士在職專班 === 99 === Diabetes is highly related to eye disorders of patients. Taurine, a conditionally essential amino acid, is capable of scavenging free radicals and exists in the retina of mammals. The objectives of this study were to establish a rabbit model of diabetes-related eye disorders and evaluate the protective effects of taurine on the diabetes-related eye disorders. Type I diabetes were induced in 10-week-old New Zealand White rabbits by a 100 mg/kg alloxan injection. Hyperglycemia (blood glucose concentration over 200 mg/dl for 3 weeks) rabbits were randomly allocated to two groups, i.e., with (DT, n=8) or without (DW, n=8) supplementation with 1% (w/v) taurine in their drinking water. Healthy rabbits without alloxan administration were served as the Control group (CON, n=6). Related parameters including body weight, blood glucose concentrations, refraction, lens and fundus examinations were measured during the 24-week trial period, and electroretinography (ERG) was recorded every 4 weeks. The histological examinations were evaluated in end of the trial. Results showed that increased blood glucose concentration and refraction as well as decreased body weight are observed in DW and DT groups compared to the CON group (P＜0.05). The percentage of cataract in DT group is lower than that in DW group (P<0.05). In addition, a functional evaluation of the retina by ERG revealed that the amplitude of a-wave in DT group is higher (P<0.05) than that in DW group which were not different (P>0.05) from that in the CON group. The abnormity of lens and retina in DW group is higher than that in DT group by histological examination. Based on our data, the diabetes-related eye disorders can be recapitulated in rabbit model and taurine shows its protective roles in diabetes-related eye disorders.