Attenuation of diabetic retinopathy by the molecular chaperone-inducer amino acid analogue canavanine in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

• DOI: 10.1007/s000180050243
• Publication Date: 2002-08-25T05:39:39Z
• Authors: K. Mihály; S. Tóth; L. Szlávik; A. Tóth; P. Csermely
• Keywords: Canavanine; Inducer

The effect of canavanine treatment on the electroretinograms of healthy and streptozotocin-diabetic rats was studied. The characteristic amplitudes of the a-wave, W2 and W3 oscillatory potentials were markedly diminished in the 2-week streptozotocin-diabetic rats compared with those of the control rats. In contrast, the amplitudes of all the responses of the canavanine-pretreated streptozotocin-diabetic rats were practically indistinguishable from those of the control animals. Our results prompt further investigations for the use of amino acid analogues and other inducers of molecular chaperones in easing the chronic consequences of diabetes such as retinopathy.