Figure 7.

Arteriolar narrowing and reduced capillary density in Ossabaw mini pigs. Retina flatmount staining with Isolectin IB4 was used to visualize retinal vasculature. (A, B) Representative image of arteriole in similar regions of lean and obese pigs showed a slight reduction in vessel caliber after Western diet. Capillary density was also reduced in obese animals. (C, D) Composite and individual images of superficial, intermediate, and deep capillary plexi showed disruption in the intermediate capillary network of the obese Ossabaw pigs. (E) A representative example of terminal capillary tubes seen in Western diet-fed pigs. (F) Double immunostaining on retinal flatmount using collagen IV and isolectin IB4 shows pericyte ghost (arrowhead) and acellular capillary (asterisk) in the obese Ossabaw pigs. n = 3 eyes per group. Scale bar: 25 μm.