Oxygen supply and retinal function: insights from a transgenic animal model

Abstract

Transportation of oxygen to the different retinal layers occurs via two major vascular systems present in the eye. The supply of the outer retina originates in the choroid (choriocapillaris) located beneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The retinal circulation supplies the inner retina and as shown by Cuthbertson (1986), exists in three capillary beds centered on the nerve-fibre layer, the junction of inner plexiform and inner nuclear layer, and the outer plexiform layer. Alder (1990) found that a typical PO2 profile starts at 82 mm Hg at the choroidal side of the retina. With increasing distance of the retinal layers to the choroid the PO2 value decreases to 2 mm Hg at the balance point of the two circulations and increases up to 15 mm Hg due to the retinal circulation.