Objective   To investigate the effects of taurine on mRNA and protein expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)in diabetic rat retina.

  Methods   Diabetic rats were induced by injected streptozocin into abdominal cavity once.They were chosen and divided at random into diabetic groups in one month, diabetic groups in two month, diabetic grops in three month.Diabetic rats treated with 1.2% taurine that were mixed with the food.Techniques of immuno histo chemistry, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blotting were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expression of GFAP.

  Results   The mRNA and protein expression of GFAP didn't obviously change in diabetic rat retina in the first month, however, the mRNA and protein expression of GFAP gradually increased in the second~third month.Taurine could down regulate the mRNA and protein expression of GFAP in diabetic rat retina in two~three month.

  Conclusion   GFAP expression that taurine down regulate indirectly reflected the protectiveaction of taur ine on diabetic retina.