Development of a retinal cell-column model of diabetic retinopathy

We have previously described a chromatographic method for measuring permeability of bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) monolayers grown on spherical Cytodex-3 (C-3) microcarriers. In designing a cell-column model relevant to diabetic retinopathy, a new macroporous microcarrier, CultiSpher-G (C-G), has been identified which supports superior growth of retinal capillary endothelial (RCE) cells. We observe that only BAEC grow on the external spherical surfaces of C-3 microcarriers, but both BAEC and RCE cells coat external surfaces and contiguous tunnels within C-G microcarriers. Elution profiles from cell-columns containing BAEC and RCE cells were analyzed and compared. BAEC and RCE permeabilities were similar and comparable to previously reported BAEC values.This in vitro technique may prove useful in studies of permeability changes found in diabetic retinopathy.