PINEAL-GLAND DOES NOT CONTROL ROD OUTER SEGMENT SHEDDING AND PHAGOCYTOSIS IN RAT RETINA AND PIGMENT EPITHELIUM

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (6) , 558-562
Abstract
Diurnal patterns of retinal outer segment shedding and phagocytosis by the pigment epithelium were examined in pinealectomized, superior-cervical-ganglionectomized and sham-operated rats. Phagocytosis was quantitatively similar in all groups. Sharp increases in the number of large phagosomes were observed soon after lights were turned on in the 3 sets of animals. Pinealectomized animals kept in constant darkness over a 24 h period also exhibited normal shedding patterns. The pineal probably does not exert a major influence on the daily rhythms of shedding and phagocytosis observed in the retina-pigment epithelium unit.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: