Retinal neoplasia and dysplasia. I. Induction by feline leukemia virus.

Feline leukemia virus, a naturally occurring C-type virus (oncorna virus), was injected systemically and intraocularly into fetal and newborn kittens. A light microscopy study of the resultant ocular tumor changes was carried out. One animal developed an intraocular tumor of apparent retinal origin. Eight animals showed intraocular neoplastic cell infiltration. The most common ocular change observed was retinal dysplasia. Sequential histologic examination of enucleated eyes showed diffuse intraocular inflammation after viral inoculation. In the developing retinas progressive disorganization and necrosis were documented, with subsequent reorganization into cell clumps and dysplastic rosette structures. The retinal pigment epithelium showed proliferation and intraretinal migration. The mature retina exhibited full-thickness folds and tubes associated with infoldings of the retinal pigment epithelium.