Altered proportions of RCS-rat eyes.

The growth pattern of RCS-rat eyes with hereditary retinal degeneration was analysed morphometrically, evaluating midsagittal sections of the entire globe and sections of the chamber angle region. No changes of the axial diameter of RCS-rat eyes were found if compared with eyes of age-matched controls. There were, however, characteristic proportional changes in the anterior eye segment of RCS rats. The distance between the peripheral end of Descemet's membrane (DM) and both the posterior end of Schlemm's canal and the ora serrata were significantly elongated indicating that this region might be most susceptible to growth factors. The length of the posterior globe up to the level of the ora serrata was shorter in RCS rats than in control rats. In addition, in RCS-rat eyes the pars plana was significantly elongated and the pars plicata shortened. Ultrastructural changes of ciliary epithelium were not seen before 7 months of age in RCS rats. They were only present in those parts of the circumference in which the stromal capillaries also revealed structural changes. The ciliary epithelial alterations were therefore considered secondary to narrowing or rarefication in the adjacent blood vessels.