RETINAL AND LENTICULAR LESIONS IN VITAMIN-C-DEFICIENT JUVENILE RED DRUM, SCIAENOPS-OCELLATUS (L)

Ocular pathologic findings in eyes of ascorbic acid-deficient juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (L.), are described. Abnormalities in t he most severely affected eyes included: reduced globe size and lack o f normal globe rigidity; vascular congestion and intraocular haemorrha ge. lenticular lesions which included disorganization of posterior cor tex, vacuolation of posterior subcapsular cortex and posterior migrati on of lens epithelium; and severe central retinal degeneration. The au thors suspect that retinal degeneration was related to phototoxic inju ry, to which these fish had increased susceptibility as a result of as corbic acid deficiency. The cause for lenticular lesions was undetermi ned, but may have been related directly to ascorbic acid deficiency, i ndirectly to retinal degeneration, or both.