EXPERIMENTAL OCCLUSION OF RETINAL ARTERIOLES (USING GRADED GLASS BALLOTINI)

Abstract

DISEASE of the retinal vessels usually involves in varying degree the whole retinal vascular system, so that in considering the pathogenesis of any particular lesion it is often difficult to decide whether it is primarily related to the arterioles, capillaries, or venules. From the experimental point of view it would be of value if the sequelae of uncomplicated lesions in each part of the vascular tree could be separately studied. With this object in mind we have sought, as an initial step, a suitable material with which to occlude in vivo the retinal arterioles. The artificial emboli must, of course, be the appropriate size, and should be inert, easily identifiable, and simple to prepare, to inject, and to store. We have found that small glass balls or ballotini are eminently satisfactory for this purpose and, to make the method available to others pursuing similar lines of work, we report in this preliminary communication a description of our technique together with a brief survey of some of our findings.