Effect of Lutein and Antioxidant Supplementation on VEGF Expression, MMP-2 Activity, and Ultrastructural Alterations in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mouse
Figure 3
Transmission electron micrographs of the outer retina and choroid of WT-C (a, b) and AE-C (c–j) groups ( = 3-4). Photographs of wt mice reveal no accumulation of sub-RPE deposits, with normal RPE basal infoldings and BM ((a) and detail in (b) ). In contrast, apoE−/− control mice show some ultrastructural alterations like vacuolization in RPE (white arrow), swelling of basal infoldings (black arrow), subRPE electrodense deposits (black asterisk) ((c) and detail in (d) ), and opening of intercellular junctions ((e) and detail in (f), ; white arrow). Also, electrodense material, seeming BLamD (black asterisk) is observed in RPE ((g) and details in (h) ) combined with some amorphous electro-dense material (black arrow). BM thickening is evident compared with WT-C animals, and non-membrane-bound lucent vacuoles inside BM were present ((i) and (j) ; black arrow).
