title: [Choroidal vessels alterations in treated and untreated diabetic rats].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos Lottelli
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Silvana Artioli
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schellini
authors.forename: César Tadeu
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Spadela
authors.forename: Elisa Aparecida
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gregório
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Padovani
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D020909:Acarbose