Ocular Pathology In Weanling Rats Fed A Choline Deficient Diet

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Weanling rats fed a choline–deficient diet develop lesions in liver, heart, CNS, kidneys and eyes. The aim of this experiment is to study the ocular pathology (OP) in correlation with functional and morphological renal alterations. Methods: Wistar, male, weanling rats were fed a choline–deficient (CD, 31 rats) or a choline–suplemented (CS, 20 rats) diet. Rats were killed at 5,6,7 and 8 days after receiving the diets. The eyes were studied by Light Microscopy (LM) and Hight Resolution Light Microscopy ( HRLM ) or "retina plana", and the kidneys by LM. Blood was obtained to evaluate BUN, creatinine (Cr) and homocysteine (Hcy). Results: The most common ocular finding was hemorrhage in both cameras, ciliary and Vitreous Body. Renal changes in CD rats were classified as no necrosis (NN), tubular necrosis (TN) and cortical necrosis (CN). CS rats did not show ocular or renal pathology. In CD rats, OP was not found in the NN rat. In the 5 rats with mild TN, only 1 (20%) showed OP, while in 7 rats with extensive TN , OP was observed in 5 (71%); in the 18 rats with CN, OP was found in 15 (83%). BUN and Cr showed a progressive increase according to renal damage. Hcy was higher in all CD rats. Conclusions: Choline–deficiency induces ocular hemorrhagic lesions after the development of renal necrosis. The OP could be due to the immaturity of the ocular vasculature at that age and its susceptibility due to high O2 requirements.

Keywords: pathology: experimental • nutritional factors • retina