Early Inner Retinal Astrocyte Dysfunction during Diabetes and Development of Hypoxia, Retinal Stress, and Neuronal Functional Loss

Abstract

These findings suggest that early changes in astrocytes are coincident with inner retinal hypoxia and ganglion cell functional deficits, whereas Müller cell gliosis and more extensive decreases in neuronal function occur later. Astrocytes may play an early and key role in changes in retinal vasculature and inner retinal dysfunction in diabetes.