Objective: To evaluate the protection effects of lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on oxidative damage of retinal nerve cells in diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty SD rats were selected in this study and divided into blank control group with (n=5) and diabetes mellitus (DM) group with (n=15). 13 of the 15 rats in DM group were successfully made the diabetes mellitus rats. The 13 DM rats were randomly divided in to LBP (n=7) and DM group (n=6). The rats in the LBP group were given 6% LBP 0.5 ml

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... ntragastric administration qd. and rats in the DM group were treated with normal saline. After 24 weeks, the VEGF mRNA and protein, the retinal tissue ultrastructure changes of the three groups were compared. Results: The weight in DM and LBP group were significant lower than the blank control group (P<0.05); The blood glucose in the DM and LBP group were statistical higher than the control group (P<0.05) and no statistical difference of DM and LBP group (P>0.05); Compared with DM group, the SOD activity was decreased and MDA level were elevated in the LBP group (P<0.05); The VEGF mRNA and protein expression was not expressed in control group and decreased in LBP group compared with DM group (P<0.05). Conclusion: LBP can significantly reduce pathological changes of the mitochondria, prevent nerve cell apoptosis, blocking the vascular lesion change development through its antioxidant effect.