Pericytes in diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract

CONSIDERABLE significance has recently been attached to the role of intramural pericytes.in the pathology of retinal vessels, and their specific injury is believed to have fundamental importance in the genesis of diabetic retinopathy. These stimulating new thoughts about an old and difficult problem have been advanced by Cogan and his co-workers (Cogan, Toussaint, and Kuwabara, 1961; Kuwabara and Cogan, 1963a) and merit careful consideration. In the present study the pathology of diabetic retinopathy has therefore been re-examined with their reports in mind, to determine how far their conclusions may be supported. No attempt will be made to review the large and controversial literature dealing with intramural pericytes; this paper is concerned only with the significance of their alteration in diabetic retinopathy.