Evaluation of retinal microcirculatory alterations in the Goto-Kakizaki rat. A spontaneous model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Abstract

A significant prolongation in MCT and a significant reduction in SBF appeared in GK rats at an early stage in diabetes. This tendency continued until 5 months' duration of diabetes. These results suggest that retinal circulatory abnormalities are found before observable retinopathy development in GK rats and that there may be some mechanism causing a reduction in SBF without changing major retinal vessel diameters at an early stage in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In addition, this study demonstrates that the GK rat will be a useful model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to evaluate retinal circulation over an extended time.