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Science 13 October 1967:
Vol. 158. no. 3798, pp. 268 - 270
DOI: 10.1126/science.158.3798.268
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Articles

Vitamin A Deficiency: Effect on Retinal Structure of the Moth Manduca sexta

Stanley D. Carlson 1, Harrison R. Steeves III 1, Jerry S. VandeBerg 1, and William E. Robbins 2

1 Departments of Entomology and Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg 24061
2 Entomology Research Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705

Sphingid moths (Manduca sexta) were reared for several generations on an artificial diet deficient in vitamin A and its precursors. Retinal tissue from depleted moths was removed for histological examination. There was extensive histolysis in the retinal epithelium and underlying nervous and connective tissues. This pathology correlated with severe visual impairment, even though normal growth, metamorphosis, and reproduction occurred. In the adult this pathology could be reversed when the larvae were reared only on tobacco (its usual host) or on the artificial diet supplemented with beta-carotene or vitamin A palmitate.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The retina of Manduca sexta: rhodopsin expression, the mosaic of green-, blue- and UV-sensitive photoreceptors, and regional specialization.
R. H. White, H. Xu, T. A. Munch, R. R. Bennett, and E. A. Grable (2003)
J. Exp. Biol. 206, 3337-3348
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Vitamin A Deficiency: Effect on Mosquito Eye Ultrastructure.
J. D. Brammer and R. H. White (1969)
Science 163, 821-823
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