AAS ›› 2013, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3 ): 379-385.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0529-1356.2013.03.018

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Development of the retinal vascular system of rodents

YAO Huan-ling  WANG Tian-shi  LIU Ding  LI Xiao-fei  LIU Jing  DENG Jin-bo*   

  1. Institute of Neurobiology, College of Life Science, He’nan University, He’nan Kaifeng 475004, China
  • Received:2012-05-07 Revised:2012-08-29 Online:2013-06-06 Published:2013-07-16

Abstract:

Objective To study the development of the retinal vascular system in rodents. Methods Immunohistochemistry,
gelatin-ink perfusion, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to demonstrate structures of the retinal
vasculature and blood-retinal barrier in rodents of different ages(n=12). Results The rodent retinal vascular system developed
from the optic disc after birth and radiated out to cover the entire retina. The superficial vasculature formed on the retinal
inner surface, then the vasculature extended into the inner and outer edges of the retinal inner nuclear layer, forming two
deep-layer vasculature that was parallel to the superficial vasculature. The blood-retinal barrier was initially composed of
naive endothelial cells, a basal membrane of non-uniform thickness, and multiple thick layers of glial cells terminal feet,
eventually it developed into a mature blood-retinal barrier composed of a smooth endothelial layer, even basal membrane, and
relatively thin terminal feet. Conclusion The maturation of rodent retinal vasculature is spatially and temporally is consistent
with the function performance of retinal photosensitivity. The mature blood-retinal barrier endows certain anti-infectious
immunity to the retina.

Key words: Rodent, Retina blood vasculature, Immunohistochemistry, Transmission electron microscopy, Gelatin-ink perfusion, Mouse, Rat 