TAPETUM DISORGANIZATION IN TAURINE-DEPLETED CATS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 18  (11) , 1200-1206
Abstract
A severe disorganization of the lattice arrangement of tapetal rods occur in cats nutritionally deprived of taurine. This is the 1st reported example of a nutritionally related degeneration of tapetal cells. Tapetal cell and photoreceptor degeneration in taurine-depleted cats suggests that taurine plays a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of some biological structures. Reduced visual evoked potentials and electroretinogram responses indicate that these cats are deficient in light processing. The importance of dietary taurine for the maintenance of normal structure and function of the cat eye is discussed.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: