title: Primary retinal degeneration: evidence of normal phagocytosis in the retinal pigment epithelium.
abstract: In rats with primary retinal degeneration, lens extraction combined with total retinal detachment provided a model for injection of a tracer of colloidal carbon into the subretinal space. Electron microscopy and acid phosphatase cytochemistry were subsequently used to analyze the ingestion of tracer by the retinal pigment epithelium. It was found that the attachment, ingestion, and digestion phases of the phagocytic process were apparently preserved. From this evidence it is suggested that there is no lack of phagocytic power in the retinal pigment epithelium of affected rat strains.
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D000135:Acid Phosphatase