[Choroidal vessels alterations in treated and untreated diabetic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diabetic alterations and the impact of short and long-term medical treatment on them.


METHODS
Thirty Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control (GC), diabetic (DG), and treated diabetic (TG) and the observations were made 1 month (M1) and 12 months (M2) after diabetes induction. Diabetes was induced by intravenous alloxan (42 mg/kg). The treated group received acarbose orally and insulin by subcutaneous injection. Eyes were prepared for transmission electron microscopy, specifically for ultrastructure of the Bruch membrane and choroidal vessels.


RESULTS
Ultrastructural examination of the diabetic rat choroid showed deposits in the Bruch membrane and accumulation of vesicles, glycogen and dense bodies in endothelial cell cytoplasm. The most affected group was that of the diabetics on month 12 (GDM2). The treated diabetics showed the least alterations on month 12 (GTM2).


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetic rats develop degenerative alterations in the Bruch membrane and choroidal vessels. These alterations are more evident in animals submitted to chronic disease, but they are also present in acute disease. Degenerative processes were not avoided with short-term treatment. Long-term treatment inhibited the progress of these processes.
Rodrigues
Antonio Carlos Lottelli
AC
Departamento de Oftalmologia, Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. eye_acr@fmb.unesp.br
Schellini
Silvana Artioli
SA
Spadela
César Tadeu
CT
Gregório
Elisa Aparecida
EA
Padovani
Carlos Roberto
CR
D020909:Acarbose / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D020909:Acarbose