Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2012, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (7): 1229-1232.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2012.07.021

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Morphologic changes of retinal capillaries in aged rat models and blood velocity analysis in the central retinal artery using high-resolution ultrasound

Xu Qing1, Lu Xin2, Shi Xiao-lin2   

  1. 1Medical Experiments and Testing Center, 2Department of Histology and Embryology, Capital Medical University, Beijing  100069, China
  • Received:2011-11-05 Revised:2011-12-28 Online:2012-02-12 Published:2012-02-12
  • Contact: Shi Xiao-lin, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Histology and Embryology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China szhyxzhx@ccmu.edu.cnof
  • About author:Xu Qing★, Master, Medical Experiments and Testing Center, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China xuqing@ccmu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The retina is more sensitive to ischemia. Therefore, the changes in ocular circulation can directly affect the function of the eye. Several tools have been found useful for the study of specific components of the ocular circulation
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the blood velocity in the central retinal artery (CRA) of the aged rat eye and morphologic changes in the aged retina using high-resolution small-animal ultrasound and combined with retinal vascular digest preparations.
METHODS: The blood flow parameters of CRA in aged and young rats were measured by high-resolution small-animal ultrasound imaging system; the parameters included the peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV), the pulsatility index (PI), the resistive index (RI) and the systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio were calculated. And the endothelial cell changes in the aged retina were determined by retinal vascular digest preparations.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with that of young adult rats, the retinal vasculature of aged rats showed morphologic proliferation and arrange disorder, broadening and the vessel wall was not smooth. PSV and EDV of the CRA was significantly lower (P < 0.01), PI, RI and S/D ratio were significantly higher (P < 0.01). Detection of PSV, EDV and resistance index of the CRA using high-resolution small-animal ultrasound provides more sensitive view of the blood vessels of the aging process.
 

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