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Aging of the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium

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Age-Related Changes of the Human Eye

Part of the book series: Aging Medicine ((AGME))

Abstract

The age-related changes of the human retinal pigmented epithelium cells are listed here. These cells play an important role in nutrition of all retinal cells. Changes in cellular density, granules of lipofuscine, granules of melanin, and complex granule s were found. In our laboratories, eight samples of the human retina (including retinal pigmented epithelium) of young individuals and 16 retinas of older subjects were used for our experiments. These samples were studied with:

  • Light microscopy for the detection of microanatomical details

  • Histo-chemical techniques for the dye of the lipids

  • Transmission electron microscopy for the detection of the ultra-structural findings

Our results, comparing retinal pigmented epithelium of subjects 21-years old with those of subjects 75-years old, demonstrate a(n):

  • Strong depigmentation in old subjects

  • Strong increase of intracytoplasmic residual bodies

  • Strong increase of total lipids

  • Decrease of phospholipids and neutral esters fatty acids

  • Increase of electron density of the sub-cellular structures due to the increase of pigment granules

All results demonstrate that the retinal pigmented epithelium of human eye undergoes specific age related changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. European Ophthalmic Neuroscience Program (Local Research Unit), University of Rome “La Sapienza,”, Rome, Italy

    Carlo A. P. Cavallotti MD, PhD

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, European Ophthalmic Neuroscience Program, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary

    Marcus Schveoller MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Carlo A. P. Cavallotti MD, PhD
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  2. Marcus Schveoller MD, PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Morphological Sciences, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Carlo A. P. Cavallotti MD, PhD

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Luciano Cerulli MD, PhD

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© 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Cavallotti, C.A.P., Schveoller, M. (2008). Aging of the Retinal Pigmented Epithelium. In: Cavallotti, C.A.P., Cerulli, L. (eds) Age-Related Changes of the Human Eye. Aging Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-507-7_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-507-7_10

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-934115-55-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-507-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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