Retinal vascular changes and systemic diseases: corrosion cast demonstration.
The purpose of the present study is to clarify the specific retinal vascular changes in rat models of single spontaneous or hereditary systemic diseases. We used Wistar Kyoto (WKy) rats 6 months of age as normal controls, 24-month-old Wistar Kyoto rats in studies of aging, 16-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), 18-month-old rats with inherited hypercholesterolemia (RICO) for arteriosclerosis, and 18-month-old Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats for diabetes mellitus. Retinal vascular corrosion casts were made and observed with a scanning electron microscope. The retinal vessels were also examined with a transmission electron microscope. Specific changes in the retinal vessels were: narrowing and thin thread-like capillaries in aging; capillary tortuosity, irregularity and narrowing in hypertension; straightening in hypercholesterolemia; and loop formation and microaneurysms in diabetes mellitus. These specific changes in the retinal vessels in each systemic disease can be clearly and easily revealed in a three-dimensional fashion by corrosion casts followed by scanning electron microscopy.
Amemiya
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Department of Ophthalmology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan. tamemiya@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Bhutto
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IA
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016319:Corrosion Casting; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D020334:Rats, Inbred OLETF; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure