title: [Comparative study of retinopathy in C57BL/6 and eNOS-knockout mouse models of type 1 diabetes mellitus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the retinal function and retinal vascular pathologies in C57BL/6 and eNOS-knockout (eNOS(-/-)) mouse models of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) induced by streptozotocin (STZ).
  
  
  METHODS
  T1DM models were established in 6- to 8-week-old C57BL/6 and eNOS(-/-) mice by intraperitoneal STZ injection. Electroretinogram (ERG) examination, fluorescein angiography (FFA), immunofluorescence staining and retinal ganglion cell counts were carried out before and after STZ injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetic C57BL/6 and eNOS(-/-) mice showed significantly lowered a-wave and b-wave amplitude in ERG and reduced number of retinal ganglion cells (P<0.05), and the retinal vessels in diabetic eNOS(-/-) mice became tortuous. Compared with diabetic C57BL/6 mice, diabetic eNOS(-/-) mice showed more severe pathological changes in retinal function and retinal vessels with also more rapid onset of pathologies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with C57BL/6 mouse models, eNOS(-/-) mouse models of T1DM can better represent the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy, thus providing an ideal model for diabetes and diabetic retinopathy studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Chongqing 400016, China. liuy4924@163.com
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496315:Nos3 protein, mouse