Retinal gene regulation shared by neurodegeneration and diabetes

Aims: Mechanisms of diabetic retinopathy have focused on the microvasculature. Previous studies have demonstrated that retinal neurodegeneration precedes vasoregression in the PKD model, showing morphological similarities of microvascular damage to early diabetic retinopathy. In the present study, we aimed to identify shared regulated genes in the neurodegeneration and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model. Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to generate PKD-2-mut L247 transgenic rat with overexpression of polycystin-2 which leads to photoreceptor death. Diabetes was induced with intr…