Ultrastructural Investigation of the Retinal Changes in Diabetic Rat (OLETF).
10.3341/jkos.2010.51.1.112
- Author:
Jun Mo PARK
1
;
Ji Eun LEE
;
Boo Sup OUM
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Yangsan Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Diabetic retinopathy;
Electron microscopy;
OLETF rat;
Scion Image(R);
Spontaneously diabetic animal model
- MeSH:
Animals;
Basement Membrane;
Blood Glucose;
Body Weight;
Capillaries;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2;
Diabetic Retinopathy;
Electrons;
Humans;
Microscopy, Electron;
Models, Animal;
Pericytes;
Rats;
Rats, Inbred OLETF;
Retina;
Retinaldehyde
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2010;51(1):112-119
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To compare retinal ultra-structures of diabetic rats (OLETF, Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty) with those of agematched non-diabetic rats (LETO, Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka) using transmission electron micrography (TEM). METHODS: The body weights and blood sugar levels of the OLETF rats and LETO rats (n=5) were measured at 10 and 50 weeks of age. Using a TEM, we compared the ultra-structural changes between the retinas of the 50-week-old OLETF and LETO rats. We analyzed the sizes of the pericytes and the thicknesses of the retinal capillary basement membranes between the two groups. Comparisons were made using a Scion Image(R). RESULTS: The mean body weight and blood sugar levels of the 50-week-old OLETF rats were significantly higher than those of the LETO rats (p(R)0.05). The thicknesses of the retinal capillary basement membranes in the outer plexiform layer and the size of pericytes were significantly increased in the OLETF rats at 50 weeks of age (p<0.05). The number of nuclei in the inner nuclear layer and the outer nuclear layer (photoreceptor cell nuclei) significantly decreased (p<0.05). However, the height of the RPE cells and basal in-foldings showed no significant differences between the OLETF and LETO rats. CONCLUSIONS: The retinal changes in the OLETF rats were observed relatively early at 50 weeks of age. These changes are similar to those seen in human diabetic retinopathy. Change in the capillaries is one feature of early retinal change. OLETF rats may be a useful animal model in NIDDM to examine diabetic retinal changes.
