Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication of diabetes, leading to vision loss worldwide. The prevalence of DR has increased in recent decades. To understand the pathophysiology of DR, various experimental models have been developed and used. In this review article, we first outline what is currently known of the general pathology of DR, including the mechanisms involved in hyperglycemia, vascular dysfunction, retinal ischemia, retinal inflammation, and retinal degeneration. We next summarize various pathologies detected in experimental models in vivo, such as in chemically and genetically induced murine, rat, and monkey models, surgical methods in larger animals like cats, and a novel murine DR model using occlusion of the carotid artery under early diabetic conditions. A general overview of the in vitro models, including cell monocultures, co-cultures, and 3D models, is also provided. This current summary enables further research to obtain a more thorough understanding of DR pathogenesis and develop appropriate treatment measures.