PhD defence: Jacob Drachmann
Regional variation in retinal blood flow regulation and oxygenation
Info about event
Time
Location
Stor Multihal K201, entrance K, Aarhus University Hospital
On Friday 4 September at 10:30, Jacob Drachmann defends his PhD dissertation entitled “Regional variation in retinal blood flow regulation and oxygenation in the healthy human eye”.
Retinal vascular diseases are characterized by a distinct pattern of retinal damage, with hemorrhages and edema occurring in the central macular area, whereas reduced oxygen supply leading to tissue damage is seen in the retinal periphery. However, it is unknown why the retinal damage occur in this pattern. Furthermore, an understanding of the diseased state requires knowledge of the healthy state. The project therefore investigates how blood flow and oxygenation are regulated in different retinal regions in healthy participants.
In the PhD project, blood flow and oxygen saturation were measured in retinal vessels in young, healthy participants. The experiments investigated how the retinal vessels responded to an increase in blood pressure and a reduction in the oxygen content of the blood. The results showed that vessels in the central macular area were able to maintain stable blood flow during an increase in blood pressure, whereas blood flow increased in the retinal periphery. Additionally, a decrease in the oxygen content of the blood resulted in increases in blood flow of similar magnitudes in both regions, but the effects on oxygen extraction differed between the two areas.
The findings provide new knowledge of the normal regulation of the retinal blood supply and may contribute to understanding why retinal vascular diseases have region specific manifestations.
The summary is written by the PhD student.
The defence is public and takes place in Stor Multihal K201, entrance K, Aarhus University Hospital. Please see the press release for more information.
Contact
PhD student Jacob Drachmann
Mail: jacdra@clin.au.dk
Phone: 22564740