DIFFERENTIAL EFFECT OF RD MUTATION ON RODS AND CONES IN MOUSE RETINA

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (6) , 489-498
Abstract
The retinas of rd/rd C57BL/6J-rd/le mice were examined by light microscopy and EM to determine whether rod cell degeneration precedes cone cell degeneration. In all eye regions a rapid rod degeneration preceded a much slower cone degeneration. Only about 2% of the rods remain in the posterior region at postnatal day 17, and none by day 36. At least 75% of the cone nuclei remained at day 17. Although most of these slowly disappeared, about 1.5% of the original population of cone nuclei in the posterior retina was still present at 18 mo. of age. A central to peripheral temporal gradient of degeneration existed, such that some rod nuclei persisted in the far periphery up to day 47, but none was found at day 65. About 5% of the cone nuclei were still present in the far periphery at 18 mo. of age.