Histological findings in the retina of wistar albino rats

Abstract

The retina is the deepest of the three layers of the eyeball and is the tissue in charge of the reception and transduction of light stimuli. The general anatomy of the retina is comparable for all mammalian species, with a few key differences. The purpose of this study was to present some histological aspects of the retina in Wistar albino rats. Postmortem histologic analysis was performed with the intention to examine the structure of retina in Wistar albino rats in comparison to Brown Norway pigmented rats. The eye samples were processed using the standard paraffin technique and stained with Goldner’s trichrome method. The multilayered structure of the rat retina was similar in the two rat breeds. However, a significant histological variation was observed in the pigmented layer of the retina in Wistar albino rats in comparison to the Brown Norway pigmented rats. Melanin granules were completely absent in the retina of Wistar albino rats. Pigments play a major role in vision. Accordingly, macular pigment (e.g., lutein and zeaxanthin) intercept blue light entering the eye, protecting against retinal injury. Melanin, acts as a screen against visible light and UV-radiation. The melanin distribution and quantity in the retina is of great importance in understanding the etiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and also developing ways to identify and treat this condition. In conclusion, Wistar albino rats could be a useful animal model for the investigation of AMD in humans, which is a medical disorder that may result in unclear or loss of vision.