[Resynthesis of rhodopsin in rats with hereditary retinal dystrophy].

Resynthesis of rhodopsin both in the retina and the eye cup was studied in albino rats (Campbell line) and in rats with pigmented eyes (Hunter line) with hereditary retinal dystrophy. Wistar rats and those of MSU line were used as controls, respectively. The rate of resynthesis of rhodopsin after its bleaching in the retina of dystrophic animals appeared to be much less than that in the normal ones, and decreased during the disease. When clear morphological changes were seen, only 50% of the previously bleached pigment was capable of regeneration during 2 hours of dark adaptation, the time being quite adequate for complete regeneration of rhodopsin in normal animals. It was found that in Campbell and Hunter rats breakdown and resynthesis of rhodopsin takes place not only in the retina but also in the layer of outer segment debris of photoreceptors located between the pigment epithelium cells and the retina.