Pathogenetic heterogeneity in retinal capillary basement membrane thickening in the diabetic BB-rat.

In the present study, we compared the effects of good blood glucose control and that of aldose reductase inhibitor (Statil) treatment on diabetic retinal capillary basement membrane thickening in the diabetic BB-rat. Aggressive insulin treatment maintaining euglycaemia for 4 months prevented the characteristic basement membrane thickening in both the superficial and deep capillary beds of the diabetic retina. Statil treatment of hyperglycaemic rats for the same length of time prevented basement membrane thickening in the deep capillary bed but not in the superficial capillaries.