ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe and estimate the distribution the changes of histology and biochemical parameters in retina of the patient with diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Retinas were divided into quadrants and the lesions of diabetic retinopathy were compared among quadrants. the vasculature was isolated by trypsin-digest, homogenates taken from temporal and nasal quadrant were used to explore regional differences in the expression of Glut-1, PKCbeta and activity of caspase1. RESULTS: Microaneurysms, acellular capillaries and pericytes ghosts were significantly increased in the temporal retina than in the nasal retina. Activity of the pro-inflammatory protease, caspase1, was the only biochemical abnormality which was found significantly difference between quadrants. Glut-1 expression was decreased in diabetes, but there was no significant difference between quadrants. Expression of PKCbeta in both temporal and nasal retina was tended to be greater in diabetic than in non diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: Retinal microvascular disease does not develop uniformly across the retina, even the different regions are exposed to the same level of hyperglycemia. Regional differences play an important role in the response of the retinal microvasculature to hyperglycemia.
