Restoration of Retinal Vascular Responses in Type 1 Diabetic Patients

The immediate goal of the proposed project is to determine whether administration of aminoguanidine (AG) restores light--evoked vasodilations in the retinas of patients without advanced retinopathy. We will also determine whether AG improves contrast sensitivity in diabetic patients. The proposed experiments are as a first step in developing new therapies to prevent diabetic retinopathy.

Study participants will be asked to come to the University of Minnesota on three (3) occasions (the visits will last for up to 2, 5 and 3 hours respectively).

Visit 1. During the screening visit (first and shortest visit), consent will be obtained and baseline labs collected (Hemoglobin A1c and Creatinine). Demographic information (date of birth, gender, race), subjects characteristics (weight, height, blood pressure and pulse) and relevant medical history will be recorded.

Visit 2. Vessel dilation testing: Control and diabetic subjects will present to the Ophthalmology Research Unit at the University of Minnesota. Prior to the imaging examination, each subject will receive dilating eye drops (1% Tropicamide) to prevent accommodation of the pupil and brief eye exam will be performed. Measurement of resting vessel diameter and light--evoked vessel dilation will be made using the Imedos Systems "Dynamic Vessel Analyzer". Subjects will be instructed to look at a fixation spot and a 350 s sequence of fundus images will be acquired during baseline and stimulation period. After completion of the initial vasodilation measurements, both control and diabetic subjects will be given 150 mg AG orally and measurement of resting vessel diameter and light--evoked vasodilation will be repeated 90 minutes later.

Visit 3. Contrast sensitivity testing: Contrast sensitivity will be assessed in un-dilated control and diabetic subjects. Contrast sensitivity will be determined both before and after AG administration using a CSV-100 test chart (VectorVision) and will be measured at 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles per degree.

Inclusion criteria

• Type 1 diabetes between 18 and 65 years of age
• Diabetes duration between 5 to 20 years.
• Normal report or minor findings on a dilated eye exam
• Healthy subjects on no medications

Exclusion criteria

Current diagnosis or history of:

• hypertension
• dyslipidemia
• epilepsy
• glaucoma or other ocular disease
• renal insufficiency/failure (creatinine >1.5 mg/dL)
• pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• smoker