Scutellarin Prevents Angiogenesis in Diabetic Retinopathy by Downregulating VEGF/ERK/FAK/Src Pathway Signaling

Figure 6

SCU improved diabetes-induced microcirculatory dysfunctions. (a) Color Doppler sonography analysis was performed in experimental animals. (A) Color Doppler ultrasound image from a DR+SCU rat retina showing localization of retinal blood vessel. (B–E) Spectral analysis of retinal blood flow rate in the control, SCU, DR, and DR+SCU groups, respectively. (b) Quantitative evaluation of velocity showed no significant difference between the DR group and the DR+SCU group (). (c) Quantitative evaluation of resistive index showed an increase of RI in the DR group (significantly different from the control group and the SCU group, ) and a significant decrease in the DR+SCU group (^#significantly different from the DR group, ). There is no significant difference between the control group and the SCU group, . Histologic retinal section with hematoxylin-eosin staining showing retinal neovascularization on the retinal surface. (d) A cross section of the retina from the control group and the SCU group showing less neovascular nuclei on the retinal surface. A cross section of the retina from DR rats showing several neovascular nuclei on the retinal surface. A cross section of the retina from the SCU-treated DR group showing less retinal neovascularization. (e) Comparison of neovascular nucleus counts of the eyes included in the study. The values represent means calculated from four eyes per group with eight sections per eye (significantly different from the control group and the SCU group, ; ^#significantly different from the control group, the SCU group, and the DR group, ; there is no significant difference between the control group and the SCU group, ).

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