Outer Blood-retinal Barrier Alteration Induced by Intraocular Ad vanced Glycation Endproduct

ABSTRACT

Advanced glycation end-product(AGE)is known as a factor causing diabetic retinopathy, but little is known about its effect on the function of outer blood-retinal barrier. To test whether AGE can increase the permeability of outer blood-retinal barrier, we injected glycated albumin into white rabbit eyes and observed the change of the fundus and of the outer blood-retinal barrier permeability. The rabbit retina in medullary ray was thickened in AGE-injected eyes. Intravenously injected microperoxidase, tracer molecule, was found in outer sensory retinal layer and outside of the retinal pigment epithelium in AGE-injected eyes. These results suggest that intraocularly injected AGE can increase the outer blood-retinal barrier permeability.