Published online Dec 15, 2018. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v9.i12.239
Peer-review started: June 26, 2018
First decision: July 19, 2018
Revised: September 1, 2018
Accepted: November 2, 2018
Article in press: November 3, 2018
Published online: December 15, 2018
Processing time: 171 Days and 12 Hours
To investigate the temporal sequence of pathological changes in the cellular structures of retina and choroidea in the early stages of diabetes in laboratory animals.
Experimental type 1 diabetes was modeled by three intraperitoneal injections of an alloxan solution into 30 male nonlinear rats at 16 wk of age. The 30th and 60th days from the final alloxan injection were chosen as the endpoints. Light and electron microscopy and morphometric and immunohistochemical studies were performed on histological slices of eyeballs from experimental animals.
Diabetic disturbances progressed to 60 d of the experiment. Thus, in the retina, a partial destruction of photoreceptors accompanied by interstitial edema was observed. The morphometric analysis revealed a reduction in the thickness of the retina. A reduction in the number of blood vessels of the choroid with disturbances of the endothelial cells and the vascular walls and a persistent reduction in the number of melanocytes were observed. The number of proliferating Ki-67 positive cells decreased, and the number of macrophages increased with diabetes development.
The starting point in the development of destructive changes involves early reduction in the number of melanocytes of the choroidea and alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium.
Core tip: Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent microvascular complication of diabetes. However, most of therapeutic approaches being developed do not address the early and potentially reversible failure of retinal perfusion. Thus, we examined pathological changes in the cellular structures of retina and choroidea in the early stages of diabetes in laboratory animals. According to the obtained results, the starting point in the development of destructive changes involves the early reduction in the number of melanocytes of the choroidea and the destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium, accompanied by an inflammatory process, which may represent a potential therapeutic target.
- Citation: Danilova I, Medvedeva S, Shmakova S, Chereshneva M, Sarapultsev A, Sarapultsev P. Pathological changes in the cellular structures of retina and choroidea in the early stages of alloxan-induced diabetes. World J Diabetes 2018; 9(12): 239-251
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-9358/full/v9/i12/239.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v9.i12.239
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the major complications associated with diabetes, and has equally been implicated as one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness globally. Because of this, DR is in the limelight of most clinical studies[1-4]. Hyperglycemia, hypertension, renal disease, and dyslipidemia, which are typical conditions in the manifestation of diabetes, have all been linked to the pathogenesis of DR[5,6]. According to the prevailing point of view, the leading causes of DR development include metabolic disturbances and vascular bed abnormalities, which accompany diabetes development[7-11]. In diabetes, hyperglycemia and associated oxidative stress trigger the pathological cascade underlying the vascular injury (micro- and macroangiopathy development)[12-14]. Due to the subsequent disturbances of vessel walls, the permeability of the hematoretinal barrier breaks down, and hypoxia appears, leading to trophic retinal degeneration and photoreceptor cell death[15-17]. The subsequent progression of the developed retinopathy leads to retinal neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhages, and the formation of fibrous tissue in the foci of preretinal hemorrhages, which forms the pathogenomic picture of diabetic complications[18-20].
However, despite the seeming transparency of DR pathogenesis and the progress in its treatment observed in recent years, a number of issues remain that warrant further study[6,21-23]. One of them is the temporal sequence of pathological changes in DR development[19-22]. Studies in rodents have highlighted that biomarkers of inflammation, such as leukostasis, overexpression of adhesion molecules in retinal vascular endothelial cells and leukocytes, vascular permeability alteration, and aggrevated production of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, cytokines, and other inflammatory mediators appears in the retina during 1-6 mo of diabetes crisis[5]. Most developed therapies for DR, have primarily focused on the terminal stage of this disease, and as thus, failed to address the early potentially reversible stage of this disease. In addition, most of these therapies have been associated with severe sight-threatening side effects[6].
With that, understanding of the temporal sequence and stages of pathological disturbances of DR development is of great prognostic and scientific value, as it might contribute to improvements to current methods or even the development of new methods of diagnosis and treatment of such a serious complication of diabetes. Thus, this work investigated the temporal sequence of pathological changes in the cellular structures of retina and choroidea in the early stages of diabetes in laboratory animals.
Healthy, sexually matured male Wister rats were used for the purpose of this experiment. The animals employed in this study were quarantined in the vivarium of the Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Division of RAS (Ekaterinburg, Russia). Only animals showing no symptoms of any disease were selected. All experimental animals were housed in similar conditions, and fed according to a customary schedule. All the experimental procedures conducted on the animals were approved by the Institute of Animal Care and Use Committee at the Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Division of RAS (diab-1-04-2016), and implemented in compliance with the principles formulated in the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (Strasbourg, France, 18.03.1986), APS’s Guiding Principles in the Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research and Training, and the Laboratory Practice Regulations of Russia Federation (Ministry of Public Health Order No. 267 from 19.06.2003).
Experimental type 1 diabetes was modeled by three intraperitoneal injections (10 mg/100 g of weight) of an alloxan solution (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, United States) dissolved in physiological saline at 1 d intervals (total dose of alloxan 30 mg/100 g) according to a modified version of the standard model of diabetes in rats[24,25]. Alloxan is a toxic glucose analogue that has been employed to induce experimental diabetes. This compound accumulates in pancreatic cells and selectively destroys the insulin producing beta-cells[26,27].
The experiments were conducted on 30 male nonlinear rats of the same age (16-wk-old). The 30th and 60th days from the final alloxan injection were chosen as the endpoints of the experiment. This duration of diabetes in rats corresponds to a duration of diabetes in humans approximately equal to 4.25 and 8.5 years, which is a sufficient time for the development of diabetes complications, including neurodegenerative complications[17,28]. Thirty rats with body weight of 190-220 g were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 in each group): control (group 1), diabetes 30 d (group 2), and diabetes 60 d (group 3). The control animals (group 1) received i.p. saline injections at day 1 and between 30-60 d (20 injections in total). The diabetes 30 d animals(group 2), weighing approximately 207 ± 10 g, were rendered diabetic after 16 h fasting conditions, by a single i.p. administration of alloxan monohydrate (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, United States) at a dose of 300 mg/kg of body weight, dissolved in 10 mmol/L of sodium citrate (pH 4.5). Afterwards, the animals were housed in standard conditions until the end of the 30 d experimental duration of the group. The diabetes 60 d animals (group 3), weighing 207 ± 10 g, received a single i.p. dose of 300 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate and were housed in similar conditions for 60 d. Peripheral blood glucose from the tail vein was obtained to determine glycemia in all experimental groups (Table 1).
On the respective sacrifice dates of each animal, they were first anaesthetized with 40 mg/kg pentobarbital sodium administered intraperitoneally. Blood samples (approximately 3 mL) were collected by heart puncture for biochemical and enzyme immunoassay investigations. Histological, immunohistochemical, and light and electron microscopy methods were used to study the rat’s eye slices.
Plasma glucose levels were determined with a standard glucose oxidase test kit (Novogluk-R, “VektorBest”, Russia)[29,30]. The plasma insulin level was determined using a standard ELISA Rat assay (Insulin ELISA, Mercodia AB, Switzerland). Biochemical testing was carried out with a DU-800 spectrophotometer (Beckman Coulter Int S.A., Switzerland).
HbA1c measurement was performed by affinity chromatography (“Diabetes-test”, (HbA1c) TOR 9398240-16404416-01, Fosfosorb OJSC, Russian Federation), according to the manufacturer’s instructions (“Fosfosorb” OJSC, Russia)[31].
A neutral buffered solution of 10% formalin was used to preserve the eye samples for 24 h, then paraffinized through a series of solutions[30]. The standard dehydration procedure was performed. The tissue was processed and embedded in paraffin wax using the autoprocessor Leica EG 1160. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of the 3-5 micron thick sections were performed for morphological and morphometric studies. The remaining sections were placed in a buffer for antigen unmasking and further immunohistochemical studies.
For immunohistochemical evaluation, tissues were first fixed in formalin, then embedded in paraffin, and sectioned at 3 μm. The antibody staining of the tissues was performed with the Autostainer DAKO, according to a standard protocol. High-temperature treatment in a citrate buffer (pH = 6) using Pascal DAKO[32-34], was employed for the unmasking procedure of antigens. The visualization of antigen-reactive cells was performed using the NovolinkTM Polymer Detection System (Novocastra Lab., Ltd), with its buffer solution consisting of a chromogenic agent 3.3-diaminobenzidine (DAB). Macrophages were visualized with anti-CD68 antibodies (clone KP1, Thermo Scientific). The assessment of proliferation was performed with mouse anti-rat monoclonal antibodies to the Ki-67 marker (clone MM1, Leica Microsystems).
Using sections of eyeballs stained with HE, the number of vessels and melanocytes per unit area (0.01 mm2 tissue of choroid) (N/0.01 mm2) was estimated in the choroidea, whereas the total thickness and the thickness of separate layers (in μm) were estimated in the retina.
The number of proliferating cells in the ganglionic and internal nuclear retinal layers was estimated on sections stained with the Ki-67 proliferation marker, the ratio of the total proliferating cells to total number of cells in the retina layer was subsequently calculated. Using sections stained with CD68 marker, the number of CD68 positive cells per unit area (1 mm2 tissue) (N/mm2) was determined in the choroidea and the retina.
Optical-microscopic examination was conducted with the microscope (Leica DM 2500), and the analysis of the image was done using Video TesT “Morphology” 5.0 program (VideoTesT, St. Petersburg, Russia).
For ultramicroscopic examination after enucleation of the eyeball, the lens of the eye and the posterior wall of the eyeball containing the retina and the choroid were fixed in a 2.5% solution of glutaraldehyde followed by postfixation in a 1% solution of osmium tetroxide (OsO4). After thorough washing, dehydration in alcohols of increasing concentrations (50%, 70%, 96% and 100%) was performed followed polymerization in an araldite resin at a temperature of 60 °C[35]. Slices were created using ultramicrotome (Leica EM UC6), contrasted with lead citrate, and examined with the aid of a digital transmission electron microscope (Morgagni™ 268).
Analysis of data was performed using Statistica 6.0 software (StatSoft, United States), variables showing results with a heterogeneous distribution were analyzed using the nonparametric (U) Mann-Whitney test. All analysis was carried out at 0.05% significance level of probability.
The development of diabetes in experimental animals was confirmed by biochemical study. According to the results, a significant increase in the levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and a decrease in the level of insulin were detected after alloxan administration in the animals of experimental groups 2 and 3 compared to the control group (Table 1).
Retina: Histological examination of the retina and choroid of animals in the control group exhibited no structural disturbances (Figures 1 and 2A). However, in experimental group 2, moderately pronounced interstitial edema and fullness of dome capillaries in the ganglionic and inner nuclear layers of the retina were observed (Figure 3A).
Electron microscopic examination confirmed the presence of edema in the form of an expansion of the spaces between the layers of rods and cones and their partial deformation and disorganization of the outer and inner segments of the photoreceptors (Figures 3B and 4). In the outer nuclear layer, round-shaped nuclei with irregular intervals between them were observed. This feature was attributed to the developing interstitial edema. The contours of the nuclei were even. The chromatin was osmiophilic in the center of the nucleus and bright on the periphery. The monolayer of cells of retinal pigment epithelium adhered to the Bruch’s membrane. In the cytoplasm of the pigment epithelium, an uneven distribution with a quantitative decrease of pigment granules was detected (Figure 2B). Electron microscopy revealed loosening of the membranes of the pigment epithelium nuclei, mitochondrial swelling, the destruction of the crista, and the enlightenment of the mitochondrial matrix (Figure 3D).
Morphometric examination of the retina revealed changes in the thickness of different layers. Thus, a decrease in the total thickness of the retina and in the rods and cones, outer nuclear and ganglionic layers was revealed, indicating the development of dystrophic processes during the time course of diabetes (Table 2).
| Group | Retinal layers | Total thickness of the retina | |||||
| Layer rods and cones | Outer nuclear layer | Outer plexiform layer | Inner nuclear layer | Inner plexiform layer | Ganglion cell layer | ||
| Control (group 1) | 36.31 ± 5.11 | 56.43 ± 1.72 | 9.85 ± 1.68 | 25.82 ± 0.76 | 38.93 ± 4.79 | 17.82 ± 0.72 | 185.16 ± 9.42 |
| Diabetes at 30 d (group 2) | 28.65 ± 3.44a | 51.62 ± 6.51a | 11.46 ± 1.59 | 26.1 ± 1.55 | 40.21 ± 7.14 | 15.98 ± 1.37a | 174.00 ± 2.93a |
| Diabetes at 60 d (group 3) | 28.38 ± 1.43a | 56.87 ± 5.30 | 9.69 ± 1.04c | 26.24 ± 0.95a | 39.94 ± 7.10 | 14.65 ± 2.05a | 175.77 ± 5.22a |
Choroidea: Morphometric analysis of the choroidea revealed a decrease in the number of blood vessels per unit area in group 2 (1.79 ± 0.07) compared to the control animals (2.62 ± 0.33) (Table 3, Figures 5 and 6).
According to the results of optical microscopic examination, alterations of the microcirculatory vessels in the choroidea were detected accompanied by desquamation and swelling of endothelial cells. These features led to the occlusion of small capillaries, the expansion of their limen, and the development of edema (Figure 2C).
Electron microscopic examination revealed a pronounced loosening of the connective tissue with the formation of edema foci in the perivascular zone. The choroid was hypovascularized, and only a small number of vessels that were generally small in diameter were detected. In vessels, various alterations of the integrity of basal membranes as well as endothelial cell swelling and their partial destruction were clearly defined. The sluggish erythrocytes were visible in the lumen of capillaries (Figure 3D).
Based on light microscopy, the pigmented layer of the choroid after 30 d of experimental diabetes was characterized by pronounced dystrophic changes in melanocytes with the destruction of their cytoplasmic membrane and the release of pigment granules into the intercellular space.
According to the results of optical microscopic examination, the layer of melanocytes in the choroid was characterized by pronounced dystrophic changes in melanocytes with the destruction of their cytoplasmic membranes and signs of pigment granule release into the intercellular space. Melanocytes located perivascularly were characterized by the presence of pronounced dystrophic changes in their ultrastructure: the destruction of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum and the output of secretory granules to the extracellular space. The number of choroidal melanocytes was significantly reduced per unit area (20.5 ± 0.39) compared to the control animals (10.1 ± 2.42) (Table 4).
| Group | Layers of the retina | |||||
| Inner nuclear layer | Ganglion cell layer | |||||
| 1000 at 1 mm2 | % of Ki-67 positive cells | 1000 at 1 mm2 | % of Ki-67 positive cells | |||
| All cells | Ki-67 positive cells | All cells | Ki-67 positive cells | |||
| Control (group 1) | 28.60 ± 2.11 | 7.25 ± 0.93 | 25.46 ± 3.53 | 7.71 ± 1.01 | 0.99 ± 0.3 | 12.98 ± 3.24 |
| Diabetes at 30 d (group 2) | 27.94 ± 1.14 | 4.92 ± 0.92a | 17.82 ± 3.79a | 5.45 ± 0.78a | 0.42 ± 0.18a | 7.83 ± 3.11a |
| Diabetes at 60 d (group 3) | 29.24 ± 2.56 | 4.55 ± 1.5a | 15.4 ± 4.76a | 6.19 ± 0.79a | 0.59 ± 0.3a | 9.95 ± 5.12 |
Immunohistochemical study results: Proliferating cells are localized in the inner nuclear and ganglionic layers or retina, where glia cells capable of proliferating are present. Ki-67 positive cells were reduced in the inner nuclear and ganglionic layers of the retina in both the absolute and relative indices, and the decrease was more pronounced in the ganglionic layer (Table 4, Figures 7 and 8).
Immunohistochemical staining of the choroid and retina with anti-CD68 antibodies revealed a decrease in the number of macrophages in the retina, both in the ganglionic and inner nuclear layers compared to control animals. No significant changes were observed in the choroidea (Table 5).
Retina: Histological examination of the retina of experimental animals from group 3 revealed an increase in dystrophic changes of photoreceptor and pigment epithelium layers compared to the histological features of group 2 animals (Figure 4). A plethora of capillaries of the retinal ganglionic layer and foci of angiomatosis in the inner nuclear layer were also observed (Figure 9).
Morphometric examination of the retina revealed changes in the thickness of different layers. Thus, a decrease in the thickness of the photoreceptor layer, internal nuclear, ganglionic, and outer reticular layers was revealed, indicating the dynamics of the development of dystrophic processes during the time course of diabetes (Table 2 and Figure 6).
Electron microscopic examination revealed signs of partial destruction of the layer of rods and cones. The remains of the membrane discs were observed, some of which were clearly visualized. In the inner nuclear layer, small diameter vessels of the sinusoidal type were observed (Figure 9B). Cells of the pigment epithelium of the retina were arranged on Bruch’s membrane, exhibiting a folded, uneven shape with invagination sites (Figure 2C). The nuclei of the pigment cells and pigment granules were determined extracellularly, and cell outgrowths were in a state of destruction (Figure 9D).
Choroidea: Melanocyte dystrophy (a redistribution of melanin granules with a decrease in the total number of cells), which was described in group 2, was preserved (Table 3 and Figure 9C).
In the connective tissue layer, focal vascular fullness with the formation of sludge complexes was revealed and accompanied by the occlusion of some vessels, endothelial cell swelling, and the destruction of the basal membrane. The number of vessels per unit area corresponded to the values obtained at 30 d (Table 3).
Electron microscopy examination revealed loosening of connective tissue and massive perivascular edema. Most of the observed vessels were characterized by an enlarged lumen with swollen endothelial cells. The cytoplasmic membrane of the endothelial cells and their nuclei were uneven and folded. Swollen mitochondria with a visible matrix and the remnants of crista were detected inside the cells.
Results of immunohistochemical study: The immunohistochemical study of Ki-67 positive cells revealed that their quantity did not decrease and were similar to group 2 (Table 4, Figures 7 and 8).
Immunohistochemical staining of the choroidea and retina with anti-CD68 antibodies revealed an increase in the number of macrophages in choroidea compared to group 1 and group 2. The quantity of macrophages in the inner layer of the retina was similar to group 2. In the ganglionic layer, an increase in the number of macrophage was equal to the control group (Table 5).
A plethora of evidence obtained over the past 20 years based on different clinical studies and experimental data have shed more light on the development and pathogenesis of DR and how it develops[6,10,11,36,37]. However, the complexity of pathogenic pathways that lead to the development of DR is beyond the scope of this article and are reviewed elsewhere[5,6,10,11,36]. The typical histological picture of diabetes characterized by the destruction of stroma and cell elements was also described in a number of studies[37].
The aim of the present study was to supplement this picture with the use of immunohistochemical and morphometric methods of investigation to estimate the numbers and proliferation status of individual cellular elements (melanocytes), thus providing information about the time course of destructive processes with the focus on the early stages of diabetes development.
In the present study, the alloxan-induced diabetes model demonstrated that in the early stages of the disease (30 d), diabetic alterations in the structures of the retina and choroid are present, and these alterations progress slightly after 60 d.
In the retina, these disorders manifest themselves as a partial destruction of the structural-functional elements, namely, photoreceptors and are accompanied by a stromal reaction in the form of the development of interstitial edema, which was confirmed by the histological and electron microscope images of the examined structures[38]. In addition, morphometric analysis revealed a reduction in the thickness of the retina due to photoreceptor destruction. Moreover, in retinal layers that are capable of proliferation (the inner nuclear layer and ganglionic layer), the number of Ki-67 positive cells decreased with the development of diabetes.
The choroidea consists of a network of chorio-capillaries and stroma. Similar to other types of connective tissue, mast cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes are present in the stroma[39]. It is believed that the vascular membrane fulfills the function of supplying the outer layers of the retina with oxygen and nutrients. Thus, disruption of the choriocapillary structure causes degenerative changes in the latter and its neovascularization[39-41]. However, the precise cellular mechanisms leading to retinal dysfunction under high glucose levels remain unclear.
According to these results, a reduction in the number of blood vessels of the choroid with the pathological alterations of endothelial cells and vascular walls were observed. Moreover, the described changes develop during early stages of the disease (30 d) and generally do not change as time progresses.
Pathological changes in the number and state of cellular elements of the stroma of choroidea (melanocytes and macrophages) complete the picture of DR. Thus, the persistent reduction in the number of melanocytes in the choroidea (1.5-fold at 30 d and 3-fold at 60 d) was observed. Moreover, the pigment epithelium of the retina exhibited signs of dystrophic changes in the ultrastructure of cells accompanied by a reduction in the amount and redistribution of melatonin granules in these cells. Moreover, given that melanocytes release the key factors of angiogenesis, such as fibromodulin, a reduction in melanocytes may be one of the factors that leads to the above described reduction in the number of capillaries in the choroidea[42].
Macrophages are present in the choroidea under normal conditions, performing homeostatic functions[42]. However, in DR macrophages play a key role in the development of the inflammatory response, releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines that lead to capillary degeneration[43]. Moreover, according to Aveleira et al[44], the proapoptotic effect of inflammatory cytokines is significantly increased with hyperglycemia. According to our results, an increase in the number of macrophages (3.5-fold) in the choroidea was observed in diabetes[44]. Apparently, such a pronounced macrophage infiltration was caused by the recruitment of cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage from the blood stream, as evidenced by their perivascular localization. The initiating factor of the observed migration of macrophages into the choroid was the development of destructive disorders (inflammation) in the latter[45].
Finally, a significant reduction (3.5-fold) in the number of pigment cells was also observed, which corresponds to findings reported in the literature[46]. This feature characterized the progression of pathological changes in the choroidea and led to further disruption of the integrity of the hematoretinal barrier[47].
In general, based on the results of our study, it can be assumed that the starting point in the development of destructive changes in DR involves the early reduction in the number of melanocytes of the choroidea and the destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium, which are the primary components of the hematoretinal barrier.
According to the literature, the direct toxic effects of alloxan on the retina, rather than secondary changes from diabetes, have been described[48-50]. Some teratogenic effects of alloxan in mice have been observed, including abnormalities of the lens and iris[49]. However, according to our results, the injection of alloxan in the total dose of 30 mg/100 g did not cause any disturbances at 14 d that could be observed via optical microscopy (Figure 10).
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a disease commonly associated with diabetes complications. It is known as one of the primary causes of visual impairment and blindness globally. More recent discoveries have shown that indicators of inflammation, altered vascular permeability, and increased production of inflammatory mediators occurs in the retina after 1-6 mo of the presence of diabetes. However, most of therapeutic approaches being developed do not address the early and potentially reversible failure of retinal perfusion.
Better understanding of the temporal sequence and stages of pathological disturbances of DR development is of scientific value, as it might contribute to improvements to current methods or even the development of new methods of diagnosis and treatment of the early and potentially reversible failure of retinal perfusion.
We have investigated the temporal sequence of pathological changes in the cellular structures of retina and choroidea in a rat model of alloxan-induced diabetes in the early stages of disease.
Alloxan accumulates in pancreatic cells, resulting in selective β-cell necrosis and diabetes. Experimental diabetes was modeled by three intraperitoneal injections (10 mg/100 g of weight) of an alloxan solution dissolved in physiological saline at 1-d intervals (total dose of alloxan 30 mg/100 g). The 30th and 60th days from the final alloxan injection were chosen as the endpoints of the experiment. Biochemical and enzyme immunoassay were performed. Furthermore, histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopy methods were employed to evaluate the rat’s eye slices. Similarly, light microscopy and morphometric analyses of slides were also conducted.
In the present study, the alloxan-induced diabetes model demonstrated that in the early stages of the disease, diabetic alterations in the structures of the retina and choroid are present, and these alterations progress with time. In the retina, DR manifest itself as a partial destruction of the structural-functional elements, namely, photoreceptors and are accompanied by a stromal reaction in the form of the development of interstitial edema and a reduction in the thickness of the retina due to photoreceptor destruction. The reduction in the number of blood vessels of the choroid, melanocytes, and pigment cells along with an increase in the number of macrophages were also observed at early stages of the disease.
The results of this study provide evidence that DR manifests itself at the early stages of diabetes. The starting point in the development of DR involves the early reduction in the number of melanocytes of the choroidea and the destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium, which are the primary components of the hematoretinal barrier.
Further studies that estimated vascular endothelial growth factor, prostate-derived Ets transcription factor, cytokines, NO, and antioxidants and correlated them with blood glucose levels and changes in the retina in various experimental models and at different time periods will contribute to the improvements and the development of new methods of diagnosis and treatment of DR.
Manuscript source: Unsolicited manuscript
Specialty type: Endocrinology and metabolism
Country of origin: Russia
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