FIG. 6.

Exogenous intravitreal PK (Kal) induces focal retinal leakage of FITC-labeled dextran at 24 h after injection. After 4 weeks’ diabetes duration, both diabetic (DM) and age-matched nondiabetic control rats were given 10-μL intravitreal injections of PK (50 ng/eye) and BSS in the contralateral eye. After 24 h, 250 μL 2 × 10⁶ Da FITC-dextran (100 mg/mL) was infused into the jugular vein and allowed to circulate for 2 min. Retinal whole mounts were prepared and imaged by confocal microscopy. Nondiabetic control and diabetic eyes injected with BSS display an intact vascular bed at 24 h postinjection. PK-injected eyes display small focal areas of dextran extravasation in nondiabetic control and larger focal areas in diabetic retina. (A high-quality digital representation of this figure is available in the online issue.)