目的：研究辛伐他汀延缓大鼠生理性视网膜衰老的作用和可能机制。

方法：3月龄健康无眼疾SD大鼠40只，按随机数字表法将大鼠分为辛伐他汀组和对照组，每组20只。在相同条件下饲养至9月龄后开始给予干预，辛伐他汀组大鼠用5mg/(kg·d)辛伐他汀灌胃，对照组大鼠用等容量生理盐水灌胃，均饲养至17月龄。采用HE染色检测两组大鼠视网膜厚度； 采用免疫组织化学染色检测视网膜神经感觉层和色素上皮层氧化应激相关蛋白Cu-Zn-SOD、NOX2和凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax的表达。

结果：视网膜HE染色显示：与对照组相比，辛伐他汀组神经感觉层排列整齐，细胞形态差异不大，细胞未见明显丢失，色素上皮层结构紧密； 神经感觉层及色素上皮层的厚度增加，差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。免疫组织化学结果显示：与对照组相比，辛伐他汀组超氧化物歧化酶Cu-Zn-SOD的表达增强，过氧化物酶NOX2的表达减弱； 凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2的表达减弱，Bax的表达增强，Bcl-2/Bax的比值较对照组降低，差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。

结论：辛伐他汀可通过减轻氧化应激反应、增加细胞凋亡等机制延缓生理性大鼠视网膜的衰老。

METHODS: Totally 40 three-month old healthy SD rats which had no eye diseases, were randomly assigned into two groups: simvastatin group(n=20)and control group(n=20). All rats were cultivated under the same conditions until they were nine-month old when interventions started to be given. Simvastatin group was given intragastric administration of 5mg/kg simvastatin every day until 17-month old. Control group was given intragastric administration of same amount of saline gavage. Retinal thickness was measured by HE staining, while Cu-Zn-SOD, NOX2, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by immunohistochemistry(IHC).

RESULTS:HE staining showed that the retinal structure was clearer; the morphology of cell was more homogeneous; the number of cells was more stable and the structure of retinal pigment epithelium was more compact when compared with control group. Thickness of retinal neuroepithelium layer and retinal pigment epithelium increased significantly in the simvastatin group. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the expressions of Cu-Zn-SOD and Bax statistically increased while the NOX2, Bcl-2 as well as Bcl-2/Bax decreased in simvastatin group when compared with control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Simvastatin plays a protective role in retinal aging by decreasing oxidative stress reaction and promoting cell apoptosis.