Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular disease of the retina, in which basal blood flow and the vascular responses to metabolic conditions in diabetic eyes are perturbed. To determine if diabetic mice have impaired retinal/choroidal blood flow and vascular reactivity, we measured ocular blood flow using MRI during hypercapnia. In diabetic mice, basal choroidal blood flow was significantly decreased. In both control and diabetic mice, hypercapnia caused a significant increase in retinal and choroidal blood flow, but the choroidal response was significantly reduced in diabetic mice, indicating impaired vascular reactivity.
This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.