Retinol and retinyl esters in pigment epithelium of rats with inherited retinal degeneration

A comparative study of the retinol and retinyl ester concentrations was performed in the retinal pigment epithelium of the normal and affected rats. Our findings indicate that in dystrophic rat retinol content increases, whereas the amount of retinyl esters is always lower than normal. An hypothesis can be made on the deficiency of enzymic activities which regulate retinol retinol and retinyl esters levels in the pigment epithelium.