Significant Retinal Capillary Basement Membrane Thickening in Hyperglycemic and Normoglycemic Diabetic-prone (DP) BB Wistar Rats

• Published in: Ultrastructural pathology Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 97 - 105
• Main Authors: Greenwood, Michael D., Ressler, Michael J., Audette, Janice L., Laturnus, Donna I., Chhoun, Rothanak, Teiken, Jennifer M., Carlson, Edward C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.04.2011; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Basement Membrane - ultrastructure; BB Wistar rats; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Weight; Capillaries - ultrastructure; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - pathology; Diabetic Retinopathy - blood; Diabetic Retinopathy - etiology; Diabetic Retinopathy - pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Rats; Rats, Inbred BB; Retinal capillary basement membrane; Retinal Vessels - ultrastructure
• ISSN: 0191-3123; 1521-0758
• DOI: 10.3109/01913123.2010.527037

The diabetic-prone BioBreeding Wistar (BB/DP) rat is an autoimmune model of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Approximately 90% of the animals (BB/DPh) are hyperglycemic by 90-120 days of age, while the remaining ~10% (BB/DPn) and diabetes-resistant rats (BB/DR) are normoglycemic for life. The transmission electron microscope data from this study demonstrate expected significant age- and diabetes-related increases in retinal capillary basement membrane (RCBM) widths in (BB/DPh) rats relative to BB/DR animals. However, the data show, for the first time, an unexpected significant RCBM thickening in (BB/DPn) rats compared to BB/DR animals at 6 months and 1 year post-onset of hyperglycemia.