title: Nutritionally induced retinal degeneration in rats.
abstract: Nondystrophic RCS rdy+ rats were fed a vitamin E-deficient diet for a period of 3 mo. Light and electron microscopic examination revealed degenerative alterations in retinal tissue in the form of a reduction in the thickness of the outer nuclear layer, shortening of the photoreceptor outer segments, and extreme thinning of the pigment epithelial cells, including a reduction in the number of cell organelles. These changes may be a result of increased lipid peroxidation activity in the retina, because vitamin E is known to have a protective antioxidant effect in many tissues. Some of the alterations are similar to those found in hereditary retinal dystrophies.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors: el-Hifnawi el-S
authors: D T
authors: DT
authors: Lincoln
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Dashti
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E