Alteration of disc formation in photoreceptors of rat retina.

Autoradiographic experiments demonstrate that the renewal process of the rod photoreceptors in the rat retina is altered during essential fatty acid deficiency. After the administration of tritiated amino acids, animals raised on a fat-free ration show no evidence of disc formation, while those raised on a normnal ration show disc formation and renewal. The latter process is apparently dependent upon the availability of linoleic or linolenic (or both) fatty acids.