Comparative morphological studies on blood vessels in eyes of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

The spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) show a lower intraocular pressure--despite high arterial blood pressure--than the normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (NR). In SHR the quantitative evaluation of resin casts and flat-mount preparations of the blood vessels of the ciliary body and choroid showed a significant dilation of the vessels when compared to NR. In the capillaries of the ciliary processes, as well as in the choriocapillaries, a vascular rarefaction was seen. In all regions of the ciliary body the number of fenestrations found in the endothelium of the capillaries was reduced by about half in SHR. In addition, hyalinization of the connective tissue--particularly around the vessels at the base of ciliary processes--was seen in SHR. The morphological changes of the vasculature and connective tissue described here may be considered the cause of the reduced aqueous formation and low intraocular pressure found in SHR.