To characterize aging as a factor responsible for structural changes, the retinae of 47 Wistar-derived albino rats and 50 pigmented rats of the Norway and BDE (Han) strains between the ages of 1 and 36 months were examined by light and electron microscopy and analyzed for changes in cell densities. In all 3 rats strains there was an overall decline in nuclear densities of outer layer nuclei by 38–50% and inner layer nuclei by 27–33% between the ages of 1 and 27 months. Over the same age range, the ganglion cell loss was comparable to the decline in the inner nuclear layer. Neuronal cell death occurred at all ages and was more pronounced in albino rats. Moreover, in albino rats, cones were more resistant than rods to destruction by age and ambient light. As age-related ultrastructural changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) (1) a substantial accumulation of lipo-fuscin; (2) an apparent thickening of the basement membrane; (3) greatly enlarged and pleomorphic basal infoldings, and (4) shorter apical microvilli were encountered. Besides mature stage IV melanosomes 27-month-old BDE (Han) and 36-month-old Norway rats also revealed stage III melanosomes. Tyrosinase activity in peripheral RPE cells could be demonstrated in Norway rats up to 12 months old and BDE (Han) rats up to 24 months old. Characteristics of RPE cells in old rats of these two pigmented strains were also melanolysosomes, melanophagolysosomes and melanolipofuscin granules. Age-related changes in retinal vessels were found in the superficial and deep capillary network and consisted of a 2- to 3-fold increase in thickness of the capillary basement membrane.
Abstract. A pigmented choroidal tumor was diagnosed in a 13-month-old male beagle. The tumor was observed ophthalmoscopically over a period of seven years. Light and electron microscopical features are those of a benign melanocytic tumor with marked histological similarities to uveal nevus in man.Malignant melanomas of the uveal tract are the most common primary intraocular neoplasms in man','' and in domestic animals.2',22 Individual case reports and the small series published show clearly, however, that these primary intraocular tumors of pigment cell origin are rare, in comparison to other tumors in animals. Most spontaneous uveal melanomas occumng in animals have been seen in dogs2.6, 17.20.23 and cats'.'. I s with occasional reports in horses'4. l9 and in cattle, sheep and rabbits.22In addition, uveal melanomas have been induced experimentally by intravenous administration of radionuclides to adult beagles,24 by intraocular injection of feline sarcoma virus in young cats,4 and following intraocular injection of nickel subsulfide in albino rats.3Whereas ocular pigmented nevi and malignant melanomas in man are located primarily in the ~h o r o i d , '~.~~ the iris and ciliary body are clearly the sites of predilection in dogs and cat~.'.~.~' Primary melanoma of the choroid is unusual in dogs. 2.20.22,26 This benign melanoma of the choroid in a dog had an unusual location and was detected ophthalmoscopically at the age of 13 months. The progress of the tumor was followed for seven years with repeated ophthalmological examinations. Case ReportFrom 1968 to 1983, a total of 5151 (2549 males, 2602 females) English beagles were used as experimental animals in toxicological studies and were investigated ophthalmologically. The 13-month-old male beagle was one of 32 dogs selected for a drug toxicity study.At initial routine ophthalmological examination, the findings in the otherwise healthy beagle were as follows ( fig. 1):In the left eye, the eyelids, conjunctiva and anterior segments, including the lens, appeared normal. Posteriorly, a large accumulation of black pigment, one disk diameter (ca. 2 mm) in size, could be seen five disk diameters from the papilla in the nasal segment of the tapetum. Occasional intact arterioles and venules coursed over the lesion. The accumulation of pigment had no measurable prominence, i.e., it was situated at the level of the choroid and was not masked by the tapetum lucidum. The margin between the lesion and the surrounding tapetum was sharply defined. The rest of the fundus was normal. The ophthalmological diagnosis was a suspicion of melanoma of the choroid. The right eye had no pathological change.On the basis of the diagnosis, the dog was withdrawn from the study and was observed ophthalmoscopically over a period of seven years ( 1975-198 1). Photographic records of the lesion were made at intervals of four months. Within the observation period the tumor had more intensive pigmentation at the margin so the lesion appeared somewhat larger and more sharply defined ( fig. 2). N...
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