Fig. 4.

Diabetes disturbs retinal cholesterol homeostasis and affects retinal cholesterol input in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. (a) Retinal cholesterol content and input in db/db mice vs non-diabetic mice after 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months of type 2 diabetes. Input was assessed within 14 days by ²H incorporation into retinal cholesterol through drinking ²H₂O. (b) Retinal cholesterol content and uptake in db/db mice vs non-diabetic mice after 6 months of type 2 diabetes. The uptake was assessed within 13 days by the incorporation of dietary ²H₇-cholesterol into retinal cholesterol. (c) Total and ²H₇-cholesterol in the serum of the diabetic mice. (d) Schematic summary of the relative contributions of retinal cholesterol biosynthesis and retinal cholesterol uptake from the systemic circulation to the total retinal cholesterol input in control mice and db/db mice after 6 months of diabetes. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparison test (a) or by two-tailed, unpaired Student's t test (b, c). n=5 animals per group. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001