Abstract
GRANIT1 has stressed the uniformity of the Purkinje shift in various kinds of eye, and concludes that there must be a chemical correlation between the rod and cone substances. Since vitamin A-deficiency is known to reduce the amount of visual purple in the retinal rods and to diminish the ability of the animal to become dark-adapted, it is of interest to see what effect vitamin A-deficiency has on the retinal function of an animal the retina of which is made up almost wholly of cones. I have measured the dark adaptation of normal and vitamin A-deficient pigeons by determining the height of the b-wave of the electroretinogram using a light of constant brightness, and also by measuring the minimum intensity of light required to elicit an electrical response from the eye. Similar experiments on animals the retinæ of which are made up almost wholly of rods2,3 have shown the sensitivity of the retina to be greatly reduced during deficiency and to be restored to normal on giving vitamin A concentrate.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Granit, R., “Sensory Mechanisms of the Retina” (Oxford Univ. Press, 1947).
Charpentier, G., Acta Ophthal. Kbh., Supp. ix (1936).
Waters, J. W., Brit. J. Ophthal., 34, 1 (1950).
Mann, I., Pirie, A., Tansley, K., and Wood, C., Amer. J. Ophthal., 29, 801 (1946).
Davies, A. W., Biochem. J., 27, 1770 (1933).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WATERS, J. Effect of Vitamin A-Deficiency on the Dark Adaptation of the Pigeon. Nature 169, 413–414 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/169413a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/169413a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.