Biomaterial Database

[The pathogenesis of cotton-wool spots]. 1997

C Leulescu

Clinica Oftalmologică Craiova.

Cotton-wool spots have been recognized as distinct ophthalmoscopic entities, yet the pathogenesis of these lesions has not been fully appreciated until now. Cotton-wool spots should be regarded as localised accumulations of axoplasmic debris in the retinal nerve-fibre lay, which result from interruption of axoplasmic transport. Cotton-wool spots could be found especially in diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy from nephropathy, collagen diseases, retinal vein occlusions and cachexia. Any factor responsible for local interruption of axonal flow in the retinal nerve-fibre layer will give rise to similar accumulations, although, pathogenically speaking, the cause is usually ischaemia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007511	Ischemia	A hypoperfusion of the BLOOD through an organ or tissue caused by a PATHOLOGIC CONSTRICTION or obstruction of its BLOOD VESSELS, or an absence of BLOOD CIRCULATION.	Ischemias
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D012164	Retinal Diseases	Diseases involving the RETINA.	Disease, Retinal,Diseases, Retinal,Retinal Disease
D005122	Exudates and Transudates	Exudates are fluids, CELLS, or other cellular substances that are slowly discharged from BLOOD VESSELS usually from inflamed tissues. Transudates are fluids that pass through a membrane or squeeze through tissue or into the EXTRACELLULAR SPACE of TISSUES. Transudates are thin and watery and contain few cells or PROTEINS.	Transudates,Exudates,Transudates and Exudates,Exudate,Transudate
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001370	Axonal Transport	The directed transport of ORGANELLES and molecules along nerve cell AXONS. Transport can be anterograde (from the cell body) or retrograde (toward the cell body). (Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3d ed, pG3)	Axoplasmic Flow,Axoplasmic Transport,Axoplasmic Streaming,Axonal Transports,Axoplasmic Flows,Axoplasmic Transports,Streaming, Axoplasmic,Transport, Axonal,Transport, Axoplasmic,Transports, Axonal,Transports, Axoplasmic
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