MULLER CELLS AND DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY

Muller cells provide nutrition for neural cells. We studied the struct ure and ultrastructure of Muller cells in the retina of thirty 3-month old Wistar rats; divided equally into 3 groups: normal rats, alloxan diabetic rats and treated alloxan diabetic rats. 1 and 12 months after induction of diabetes. We observed that the Muller cell nuclei under light microscope examination had hexagonal shape and higher density th an the other nuclei. Differences between groups could be observed only by electron microscopy. In the diabetic rats, Muller cells presented dispersion of nuclear chromatin and electrondense nuclear granulations , with the presence of increased glycogen, dense bodies and lysosomes in the cytoplasm. The alterations were more frequent in the perivascul ar region and at 12 months. The treated diabetic rats exhibited some a lterations we observed in diabetic rats. but these alterations were le ss intense. We conclude that, despite the treatment, the diabetic reti nopathy continues to evolve.