Microvasculature of the rat eye: scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts

Methylmethacrylate castings of the eye microvasculature were prepared from 10 Spargue-Dawley rats and studied by electron microscopy. The choroidal arterioles are larger in diameter than retinal arterioles, and have a shorter course to choroidal capillaries than retinal arterioles to retinal capillaries. Retinal capillaries are extremely thin in diameter and form a sparse retinal capillary network. The choriocapillaris is large and sinusoid-like, forming a compactly arranged network in the choroid. These differences in the microvasculature between the choroid and retina help explain the differences in ocular hemodynamics; that is, the blood flow in the choroid is faster than that in the retina. Capillaries of the iris show a zigzag configuration, which may be an accommodation for dilation and constriction of the pupil. Capillaries of the ciliary body are of large diameter forming leaf-like configurations, presumably to contribute to the secretion of the aqueous humor. Capillaries of the conjunctiva exhibit a somewhat coiled configuration, the arrangement of which reduce tension of the conjunctiva vessels caused by eyeball movement. Intra-arterial cushions, which control blood flow at the branching sites, are found in both choroidal or retinal arterioles.