Morphology and Enzyme Activities of the Retinal Capillaries in Mice With the Obese‐hyperglycaemic Syndrome (Gene Symbol Ob)

Abstract

The retinal capillary bed from 67 obese-hyperglycaemic mice and 64 lean litter mates was isolated by trypsin digestion and investigated with respect to structure and enzyme activities. There was no significant difference in the ratio between numbers of endothelial and mural cells. The capillary walls did not show any obvious structural differences and microaneurysms were not observed. The retinal vessels from the obese-hyperglycaemic mice, however, displayed significantly higher activities of the enzymes hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase, asparate aminotransferase (ASAT) and adenylate kinase than their lean litter mates. The activities of glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and phosphofructokinase were similar in the two experimental groups. It is suggested that the present data reflect early metabolic disturbances related to diabetic retinopathy.

Labelling of retinal capillaries in mice by repeated [3H]thymidine injections

“…The present finding that the obese-hyperglycemic mice display no significant changes of the retinal vascular cell replication during their first 6 months of life, is of importance. It is in agreement with our previous findings when we showed that the ratio between endothelial cells and pericytes was not changed in these mice (Naeser & Agren 1978). Furthermore, Kinoshita et al (1979) could not find retinal or lens changes in these mice with respect to sorbitol metabolism.…”