Effects of pancreatic islet implantation on the morphology of retinal capillaries in alloxan diabetic mice.

Intrasplenic implantation of syngeneic islets normalized the hyperglycaemia of alloxan-diabetic mice irrespective of whether the implantation was performed 2 weeks or 4 months after the induction of diabetes. Islet implantation soon after the onset of diabetes prevented the development of retinal capillary disease as evidenced by a normal ratio between endothelial cells and pericytes. The increase of the cell count ratio (endothelial cells/pericytes) induced by long-term diabetes could not, however, be restored by islet implantation. The present results further underline the importance of optimal treatment for prevention of diabetic retinopathy.