Changed retinal cell content in diabetics (author's transl)

Abstract

A quantitative exploration of retinal cell content was carried out in diabetics and metabolically healthy controls of the same age and sex distribution. After diabetes of 6 years duration there was a drastic diminution of cells in the ganglion cell layer of the central retinal area, while the number of cells of the inner nuclear layer was slightly reduced and that of the outer nuclear layer was still unchanged. The periphery of short duration diabetic retinae showed a normal cell content in all nuclear layers. In long-term diabetes (about 10 years), significant diminutions in cell numbers were found in all layers of both the retinal center and periphery. The described cell deficits are accounted for by disturbances of retinal microcirculation. After a relatively short duration of diabetes, blood flow interruptions in the area supplied by the central retinal artery occur; in long-term diabetics the chorioidal vessels are also affected. Connexions between the cell-deficit pattern and functional (electrophysiological) findings are discussed.