INTRACELLULAR STRUCTURES OF RETINAL VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM IN NORMAL AND EARLY DIABETIC RATS

Purpose: To determine whether the arrangement of microfilaments in ret inal vascular endothelium is altered in early diabetes. Methods: F-act in and nuclei of retinal vascular endothelial cells of normal and diab etic (28 weeks postinduction) rats were examined using confocal micros copy. Results: An increase in the incidence of aberrant F-actin bundle arrangement in the diabetic retinal arteriole was observed, but there was no disruption of peripheral border F-actin.The diameter of superf icial capillaries was increased in diabetic rats. Conclusion: These ch anges may be related to the endothelial dysfunction demonstrated in a previous pharmacological study.