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Degenerated intramural pericytes ('ghost cells') in the retinal capillaries of diabetic rats.
- Source :
-
Current eye research [Curr Eye Res] 1991 Apr; Vol. 10 (4), pp. 339-50. - Publication Year :
- 1991
-
Abstract
- One of the earliest histopathological signs of diabetic retinopathy is a selective loss of intramural pericytes from retinal capillaries. In the present study, the retinal vessels of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes (STZ Wistar) and rats with genetically-induced insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (BB Wistar) and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (SHR/N-corpulent) were examined after 6 to 8 months duration for diabetes-related retinal microangiopathies. The SHR/N-corpulent (cp) rats were fed a 54% sucrose diet, whereas the STZ Wistar and BB Wistar rats were fed laboratory chow for 32 to 36 weeks. In all the diabetic rats, the retinal capillaries in enzyme-digested flat mounts exhibited an increase in periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and loss of pericytes compared to their respective euglycemic controls. Pericyte "ghosts", like those defined in human diabetes as intramural pockets lacking normal cell contents, were documented by high resolution micrographs in all the diabetic rats. Endothelial cell proliferation, capillary dilation, and varicose loop formation were noted in some of the diabetic rats. Hence, similar capillary lesions were found in very different groups of diabetic rats. The findings suggest that a chronic high tissue concentration of glucose is the underlying factor which triggers pathogenesis in the pericyte. Hyperglycemia-induced activation of endogenous aldose reductase of the polyol pathway is probably the initial insult, but other factors such as advanced glycosylation products may affect the final outcome.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Blood Glucose
Capillaries pathology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 genetics
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 pathology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 pathology
Endothelium, Vascular pathology
Female
Male
Rats
Rats, Inbred BB
Rats, Inbred SHR
Rats, Inbred Strains
Streptozocin
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental pathology
Diabetic Retinopathy pathology
Retinal Vessels pathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0271-3683
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Current eye research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 1829996
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3109/02713689108996340