Figure 5.

AS-IV inhibited the ROS and MDA generation induced by high glucose in rat RCECs. Seeded in plates or flasks, the rat RCECs were incubated with varying concentrations of AS-IV (10 μM) in high glucose (30 mM glucose), and mitochondrial ROS as well as intracellular O₂⁻ and H₂O₂ production were measured using the MitoTracker Red CM-H₂XRos, DHE, and DCFH-DA, respectively. Representative images of cells from three independent experiments are shown (A). The values are expressed as mean ± SD per treatment group (n=4) (B). After 72 h of AS-IV treatment, the intracellular concentrations of H₂O₂ and O₂⁻ as well as mitochondrial ROS were decreased. A lipid peroxidation assay showed that AS-IV decreased the MDA content (C). ^##P<0.01 and ^#P<0.05 versus 5.5 mM glucose; **P<0.01 versus 30 mM glucose. Scale bar: 33 μm.

Abbreviations: AS-IV, astragaloside IV; RCECs, retinal capillary endothelial cells; ROS, reactive oxygen species; MDA, malondialdehyde; DHE, dihydroethidium; DCFH-DA, 2,7′-dichlorofluorescindiacetate.