The choriocapillaris, Bruch's membrane (BM) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) supply the major fraction of nutrients required by the photoreceptors and other cells of the outer neural retina. A knowledge of the basic properties of these structures is vital to the understanding of normal eye function and the pathogenesis of ocular dysfunction in conditions such as senile macular degeneration, uveitis, and neovascularization. Previous studies by the principal investigator have furnished a significant amount of this basic information including the permeability characteristics and surface properties of the choriocapillary endothelium, the proteoglycan components of BM, and the cell-surface molecules on the RPE. In the current proposal, this knowledge is applied to the study of the choriocapillaris and BM. In experimental models of uveitis, the permeability properties of the choriocapillaris will be examined to determine if alterations from the normal restriction to circulating plasma proteins exists prior to, and after, the onset of inflammation. Changes in the anionic moieties of BM following the infiltration of inflammatory cells will also be examined. These changes in the choriocapillaris and BM may potentiate the pathology seen in uveitis. Since histamine, a known vasoactive agent, is involved in the establishment of uveitis, a study of the possible ultrastructural localization of histamine receptors on the vascular endothelium will be done. Non-anticoagulant heparin and cortisone administration have been shown to inhibit the neovascularization of tumors in experimental models. This treatment will be applied to rats to determine if it is effective in the prevention of choroidal neovascularization seen after phototoxic injury. Additional studies will focus on the basic endothelial cell biology important to eye function. These are the choriocapillary endothelial pathways for the transit of retinol-carrier molecules bound for the RPE, the role of retinol in endothelial cell metabolism, and the nature of receptors for glycoproteins on the cell surface. These will be examined by ultrastructural cytochemical methods and will further lead to the understanding of the function of the choriocapillaris in normal and disease processes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY003776-05
Application #
3258212
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1981-09-01
Project End
1988-09-29
Budget Start
1985-09-30
Budget End
1986-09-29
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Louisiana State University Hsc New Orleans
Department
Type
School of Medicine & Dentistry
DUNS #
782627814
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70112
Li, Roger W; Klein, Stanley A; Levi, Dennis M (2006) The receptive field and internal noise for position acuity change with feature separation. J Vis 6:311-21
Pino, R M (1990) Localization of lectin receptors. Methods Enzymol 184:388-95
Smith, S S; Pino, R M; Thouron, C L (1989) Binding and transport of transthyretin-gold by the endothelium of the rat choriocapillaris. J Histochem Cytochem 37:1497-502
Pino, R M (1989) Cytochemical studies of the vascular endothelium. Prog Histochem Cytochem 19:1-40
Pino, R M (1987) Binding and endocytosis of heparin-gold conjugates by the fenestrated endothelium of the rat choriocapillaris. Cell Tissue Res 250:257-66
Hilliard, A J; Pino, R M; Thouron, C L (1987) Preparation of retinal vessels for scanning electron microscopic examination using microdissection by ultrasonication. Curr Eye Res 6:1353-7
Pino, R M (1987) Perturbation of the blood-retinal barrier after enzyme perfusion. A cytochemical study. Lab Invest 56:475-80
Pino, R M; Thouron, C L (1986) Identification of lectin-receptor monosaccharides on the endothelium of retinal capillaries. Curr Eye Res 5:625-8
Pino, R M (1986) Immunocytochemical localization of fibronectin to the retinal pigment epithelium of the rat. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 27:840-4
Pino, R M (1986) Restriction of exogenous transthyretin (prealbumin) by the endothelium of the rat choriocapillaris. Am J Anat 177:63-70

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