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Light and electron microscopic studies on human retinal blood vessels of patients with sclerosis and hypertension

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Abstract

Purpose

To correlate the ophthalmoscopic and histological findings on human retinal blood vessels of patients with sclerosis and hypertension, respectively.

Methods

Ophthalmoscopy, light microscopy, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy with histochemical staining were performed on eyes obtained from patients with a malignant orbital tumor, with absolute glaucoma, or with hypertensive retinopathy.

Results

The retinal arteries in aged patients with ophthalmoscopic sclerotic blood vessels had walls in which the smooth muscle cells had been replaced by collagen fibers, proteoglycan filaments, and ruthenium red-positive materials. The venous blood columns were hidden by numerous swollen nerve fibers and extending Müller cell processes. In a patient with accelerated hypertensive retinopathy, some of the muscle cells in the arteriolar walls were edematous. Focal and generalized narrowing of the retinal arteries appeared to be caused by a true functional constriction of the smooth muscle cells in the walls.

Conclusions

The ophthalmoscopic signs, such as reflection of the retinal arterial blood column and crossing phenomena, were supported by sclerotic manifestations clearly visible upon histological examination. There were some organic changes in the retinal arteries in a patient with accelerated hypertensive retinopathy, but the ophthalmoscopic narrowings appeared to result from a functional constriction of the smooth muscle cells in these vessels.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Duco I Hamasaki (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, USA) for his assistance and advice. This study was supported in a part by the Research Fund for Community Medicine, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Ophthalmology and Visual Science Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Kimura, Naoya Fujimoto & Yoshihiko Tsuyama

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University, Urayasu Hospital, 2-1-1 Tomioka, Urayasu, 279-0021, Japan

    Atsushi Mizota

Authors
  1. Tsuyoshi Kimura
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  2. Atsushi Mizota
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  3. Naoya Fujimoto
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  4. Yoshihiko Tsuyama
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Correspondence to Atsushi Mizota.

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Kimura, T., Mizota, A., Fujimoto, N. et al. Light and electron microscopic studies on human retinal blood vessels of patients with sclerosis and hypertension. Int Ophthalmol 26, 151–158 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9033-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9033-1

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