Biomaterial Database

Parafoveal retinal telangiectasis. Light and electron microscopy studies. 1980

W R Green, and H A Quigley, and Z De la Cruz, and B Cohen

The clinical, histopathological, and ultrastructural features of a case of parafoveal telangiectasis are reported. No telangiectasis of retinal vessels was found. Instead, there was thickening of the wall of the retinal capillaries and narrowing of the calibre of the lumen. Thickening was due to marked proliferation of basement membrane in a multilayered configuration, Cellular debris from degenerated endothelial cells and pericytes, and multimembranous lamellar lipid material were entrapped between layers of basement membrane. Extensive degeneration of pericytes was observed, and occasional areas showed degenerated endothelial cells. These changes were not restricted to the clinical-affected parafoveal area but were also seen to a lesser degree throughout the retina. The changes are interpreted as being due to primary endothelial cell degeneration and regeneration, with successive waves of basement membrane production and secondary degeneration of pericytes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D012164	Retinal Diseases	Diseases involving the RETINA.	Disease, Retinal,Diseases, Retinal,Retinal Disease
D002196	Capillaries	The minute vessels that connect arterioles and venules.	Capillary Beds,Sinusoidal Beds,Sinusoids,Bed, Sinusoidal,Beds, Sinusoidal,Capillary,Capillary Bed,Sinusoid,Sinusoidal Bed
D005260	Female		Females
D005584	Fovea Centralis	An area approximately 1.5 millimeters in diameter within the macula lutea where the retina thins out greatly because of the oblique shifting of all layers except the pigment epithelium layer. It includes the sloping walls of the fovea (clivus) and contains a few rods in its periphery. In its center (foveola) are the cones most adapted to yield high visual acuity, each cone being connected to only one ganglion cell. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001485	Basement Membrane	A darkly stained mat-like EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX (ECM) that separates cell layers, such as EPITHELIUM from ENDOTHELIUM or a layer of CONNECTIVE TISSUE. The ECM layer that supports an overlying EPITHELIUM or ENDOTHELIUM is called basal lamina. Basement membrane (BM) can be formed by the fusion of either two adjacent basal laminae or a basal lamina with an adjacent reticular lamina of connective tissue. BM, composed mainly of TYPE IV COLLAGEN; glycoprotein LAMININ; and PROTEOGLYCAN, provides barriers as well as channels between interacting cell layers.	Basal Lamina,Basement Lamina,Lamina Densa,Lamina Lucida,Lamina Reticularis,Basement Membranes,Densas, Lamina,Lamina, Basal,Lamina, Basement,Lucida, Lamina,Membrane, Basement,Membranes, Basement,Reticularis, Lamina
D012171	Retinal Vessels	The blood vessels which supply and drain the RETINA.	Pecten Oculi,Retinal Vasculature,Retinal Blood Vessels,Retinal Blood Vessel,Retinal Vasculatures,Retinal Vessel,Vasculature, Retinal,Vessel, Retinal,Vessel, Retinal Blood
D013684	Telangiectasis	Permanent dilation of preexisting blood vessels (CAPILLARIES; ARTERIOLES; VENULES) creating small focal red lesions, most commonly in the skin or mucous membranes. It is characterized by the prominence of skin blood vessels, such as vascular spiders.	Spider Veins,Telangiectasia,Spider Vein,Telangiectases,Telangiectasias,Vein, Spider,Veins, Spider