Abstract: bjective To study the protective effects and mechanism of Pentazocine (PTZ) on retinal Müller cells under high-glucose conditions. Design Experimental study. Participants The cultivated retinal Müller cells of SD rats. Methods  The  cultivated retinal Müller cells of SD rats were divided into three groups, control group with normal level of glucose (NG，5.5 mmol/L), high glucose group (HG, 30 mmol/L), Pentazocine treatment group (HG+PTZ, HG in the presence of PTZ 3 umol/L).  MTT is used to detect cellular activity at 6, 12, 24 and 72 h cultivated. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) mRNA expression by the Müller cells in three experimental groups were examined by RT-PCR, production of VEGF and ATF4 was measured by Western blot. Main Outcome Measures Cellular activity, expression of mRNAs and proteins. Results  After 72 h, high glucose exposed, the HG group cells viabilities decreased significantly compared with NG（P<0.05）, and the cells vitality of HG group were decreased by (23.3±0.1)% compared with NG group; HG+PTZ group cells activities was higher than the HG group (P<0.05). After the retinal Müller cells were exposed to HG (30 mmol/L), compared with NG, the expressions of VEGF, ATF4 mRNA and protein were up regulated (P<0.05). In addition, Pentazocine reduced HG-induced the expression of VEGF, ATF4 mRNA and protein, there was no statistical difference between NG and HG+PTZ groups (P>0.05). Conclusion  Pentazocine significantly improve the cellular acticvity and inhibited HG-induced VEGF and ATF4 mRNA and protein expression in retinal  Müller cells.

Key words: diabetic retinopathy, Pentazocine, Müller cells, VEGF, ATF4