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Retaining Retina
04 April 2015

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

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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