Destruction Of Pigment Epithelium Research Articles

Experimental venous thrombosis: preretinal PO2 before and after photocoagulation

Experimental occlusion of a retinal vein leads to retinopathy in the affected drainage area. In some cases the formation of ischemic regions, where the retina is completely destroyed, is typical for the development of this retinopathy. Laser photocoagulation restores the physiological preretinal oxygen pressure in these hypoxic regions. It is possible that the rise in O2 pressure which has been observed is caused by destruction of pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor layer, as oxygen diffuses freely from the choroid to the inner retina without being consumed by the outer layers.

Multifocal Retinopathy in Borna Disease Virus Infected Rabbits

Experimental infection of rabbits with Borna disease virus led in all cases to a multifocal retinopathy that paralleled the clinical neurologic symptoms. The retinal changes always became evident first in the lower anterior quadrant of the eye. Infectious virus and antigen were detected in altered and unaltered regions of the retina. Individual chorioretinal lesions showed destruction of the pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors and perivascular inflammation close to small choroidal veins. Because of maximal antigen accumulation and the focal destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium we consider this cell layer to be the initially damaged structure.