Retaining Retina

When light falls on the light-sensing cells of the retina at the back of the eye, vitamin A molecules inside change shape. This makes the cells, like those at the bottom of this slice of rabbit retina, trigger nerves that send a signal to the brain. But sometimes two vitamin A molecules come together and form a dimer. Buildup of these dimers is found in the retinas of people suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD): a currently unpreventable condition that causes degenerative loss of vision and eventually blindness. Researchers have now found that these cause many symptoms of the condition. Rabbits given synthetically-made vitamin A dimers over a few weeks developed loss of vision and disruption of retina structure, like that seen in AMD. With this understanding comes the promise of future treatments for people this life-changing condition.

Written by Esther Redhouse White

Esther Redhouse White

Writer

A recent Biochemistry graduate from York, Esther has worked on bacterial killing proteins and genetic switches in worms. In her spare time she likes visiting museums full of skeletons.

• Image by Jackie Penn and colleagues
• Columbia University Medical Center, USA
• Originally published under a Creative Commons Licence (BY 3.0)
• Research published in Disease Models and Mechanisms, February 2015