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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Retinal Pathophysiological Evaluation in a Rat Model
Published on: May 6, 2022
Significant retinal capillary basement membrane thickening in hyperglycemic and normoglycemic diabetic-prone (DP) BB
Michael D Greenwood1, Michael J Ressler, Janice L Audette
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202-9037, USA.
Abstract:
The diabetic-prone BioBreeding Wistar (BB/DP) rat is an autoimmune model of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Approximately 90% of the animals (BB/DPh) are hyperglycemic by 90-120 days of age, while the remaining ~10% (BB/DPn) and diabetes-resistant rats (BB/DR) are normoglycemic for life. The transmission electron microscope data from this study demonstrate expected significant age- and diabetes-related increases in retinal capillary basement membrane (RCBM) widths in (BB/DPh) rats relative to BB/DR animals. However, the data show, for the first time, an unexpected significant RCBM thickening in (BB/DPn) rats compared to BB/DR animals at 6 months and 1 year post-onset of hyperglycemia.
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