Ultrastructural Changes of The Retinal Capillary Basement Membrane in The Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Cho, Ho Kyun; Lee, Do Hyung

Abstract

Ultrastructural changes of the retinal capillary basement membrane in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats Cho, Hokyun, M.D., Lee, Dohyung, M.D. We studied the changes of the retinal capillary in diabetic retinopathy. We measured the thickness of the basement membrane of the retinal capillary endothelial cells and the capillary pericytes using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and the results were compared with that of normal control rats. And also an morphological lterations of the retinal capillary were examed on the prediabetes and 3, 7 month-aged diabetic rats. The basement membrane thickness was measeured with 0.1mm calibrated ruler overlaying the electron micrograph with a transparent plastic sheet on which were etched 20 radiating lines exactly 18degree apart. The SPSS and Instat program were used for statistical evaluation of the data. An age related increase of the basement membrane of the capillary pericyte and endothelial cell was evident in both diabetic and control group. It was more prominent in the pericyte basement membrane of diabetic rats (diabetic rats 112.5%, control 62.5%). Comparing the age related thickening of the pericyte basement membrane and endothelial basement membrane, the increase of the thickness of the pericyte basement membrane at 7 month-aged diabetic rats was statistically significant(p<.0005). Some degenerative changes of the basement membrane itself and cytoplasmic degeneration of the endothelial cell and pericyte were visible, and those were more prominent in diabetic rats. Some capillary endothelial cell shows thinning in 7 month-aged diabetic rats.