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Development of the retinal circulation in the pig
L De Schaepdrijver1, P Simoens, H Lauwers
1Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Belgium.
Anatomy and Embryology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Retinal blood vessel development in porcine fetuses occurs in three distinct stages, starting from the optic nerve and progressing outwards. This study details the angioblast, angiogenesis, and maturation phases of retinal vascularization.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- The embryonic retina is initially avascular, relying on diffusion for nourishment.
- Understanding retinal vascular development is crucial for addressing vision disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and describe the stages of retinal angiogenesis in porcine fetuses.
- To differentiate the development processes of the inner and outer retinal vascular plexuses.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of semithin sections from 300 porcine fetal eyes.
- Analysis using vascular corrosion casts to visualize the developing vasculature.
Main Results:
- Retinal vascularization proceeds in three stages: angioblast, angiogenesis, and maturation.
- The inner vascular plexus develops centrifugally from the optic nerve, forming a monolayer by gestational week 10.
- The outer vascular plexus originates from the inner plexus, developing from the macula outwards.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a detailed timeline and description of retinal vascular development in porcine fetuses.
- Distinct developmental pathways exist for the inner and outer retinal vascular plexuses.