Abstract We investigated and DHA compared the susceptibility of retinal blood flow regulation and neural function in mice developing type 2 diabetes.The longitudinal changes in retinal neuronal function and blood flow responses to a 10-min systemic hyperoxia and a 3-min flicker stimulation were evaluated every 2 weeks in diabetic db/db mice and nondiabetic controls (db/m) from age 8 to 20 weeks.The retinal blood flow and neural activity were assessed using laser speckle flowgraphy and electroretinography (ERG), respectively.
The db/db mice had significantly higher blood glucose levels and body weight.The resting retinal blood flow was steady and comparable between two groups throughout the study.Hyperoxia elicited a consistent decrease, and flicker light an increase, in retinal blood flow in db/m mice independent of age.
However, these flow responses were significantly diminished in db/db mice at 8 weeks old and then the mice became unresponsive to stimulations at 12 weeks.Subsequently, the ERG implicit time for oscillatory potential was significantly increased at 14 weeks of age while the a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and implicit times remained unchanged.The deficiencies of flow regulation and neurovascular Collections coupling in the retina appear to precede neural dysfunction in the mouse with type 2 diabetes.