REDUCED RETINAL DEFICITS IN AN ALBINO MAMMAL WITH A CONE RICH RETINA - A STUDY OF THE GANGLION-CELL LAYER AT THE AREA CENTRALIS OF PIGMENTED AND ALBINO GREY SQUIRRELS

In all albino mammals studied the central retina is underdeveloped and there is a rod deficit, Central ganglion cell density is similar to 2 5% below normal. This is not seen in birds, which have a cone dominate d retina, Here we examine the ganglion cell layer in a cone rich mamma l, the squirrel Sciurus carolinensis leucotis. Central cell densities were only < 5% lower in the albinos than in pigmented squirrels, Squir rels are the only known albino mammal to survive successfully in the w ild, reinforcing the notion that their visual deficits are minor. The relative immunity of these albino retinae from this deficits may be re lated to different patterns of cell production between rod and cone do minated eyes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.