title: Streptozotocin-induced diabetes, and the optic nerve blood barrier.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the features of the endoneurial micro-vessels of the optic nerve in streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Optic nerves from control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Patency was determined by indirect immunofluorescence albumin detection. The expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules was performed by direct immunofluorescence. The endoneurial vessels were counted, and the endothelial cell, the basement membrane, and the surface of the transverse section of the nerve were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vessels of diabetic rats showed vessel wall thickening, preservation of pericytes, an increase in endothelial cell transcytosis, and an increased number of perivascular macrophage cells. It may be concluded that the effects of hyperglycaemia on the inner vessels of the optic nerve are more similar to the cerebral diabetic vessels than to the retinal vessels in diabetic animals.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfología, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España. Electronic address: raleman@dmor.ulpgc.es.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alemán
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfología, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mompeó
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfología, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castaño
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D006943:Hyperglycemia; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats; D012171:Retinal Vessels; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D013311:Streptozocin
keywords: Diabetes; Hiperglucemia; Hyperglycaemia; Nervio óptico; Optic nerve; Patency; Permeabilidad; Vasos; Vessels