Study Of Intra-ocular Pressure And Retinopathy In Type1Diabetic Mice

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy had become a research hotspot offundus lesions. The purpose of this study was qualitative assessment forthe change of retinal vessel and electroretinogram，on the other hand，thechange of intra-ocular pressure in diabetic mice.Methods: Healthy Six-week-old C57BL/6mice were used asdiabetic model, by intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin (STZ)during three days. Mice were studied after the success of establishinganimal models with the time of5,10weeks. Intraocular pressure (IOP)was measured with a TonoLab tonometer, which is contact-less. Usingimmunofluorescence technique to CD31antibody, the retinal bloodvessel was observed by photofluorography of the fluorescence stainedspecimen. Dark adaptation ERG was used to evaluate visual function.Results: The diabetic mice had significantly elevated IOP levels at5and10weeks after the success of establishing animal models comparedwith the age-matched control mice (p<0.01and p<0.001, respectively).The pipe diameter of retinal vessel of control mice was obviously larger;vascular morphology was distinctly clearer; blood vessel density was higher, compared with diabetic mice. Amplitude of a,b wavessignificantly elevated accompanied increasing light stimulus intensity at5and10weeks diabetic mice and age-matched control mice in darkadaptation. Amplitude of a, b waves of control mice were significantlyhigher compared with diabetic mice in the same stimulus condition. Therewas no significantly difference of the amplitude of a,b waves between5and10weeks diabetic mice.Conclusion: This is a preliminary study of retinal vessel andelectroretinogram in diabetic mice. IOP was gradually elevated in diabeticmice of type1. Visual function was reducing in diabetic mice with theexamination of ERG. The form of blood vessel was significantly changedin diabetic mice. Afore-mentioned pathological changes maybe happenedin other animal model of diabetes mellitus，with the universality of DR.This study could lay the foundation of further research.