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Optic atrophy in experimental vitamin B 12 deficiency in monkeys
Author(s) -
Chester Edward M.,
Agamanolis Dimitris P.,
Harris John W.,
Victor Maurice,
Hines John D.,
Kark John A.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1980.tb02991.x
Subject(s) - atrophy , pathological , pathology , vitamin b12 , medicine , optic nerve , degeneration (medical) , physiology , biology , anatomy
The clinical findings and pathological changes of the visual pathway of vitamin B 12 deficient monkeys have been described. The cellular morphology and counts of the peripheral blood and bone marrow remained normal during the study (nine deficient, three controls: one still alive in each group). Visual impairment was noted in all seven of the deficient animals that were evaluated by clinical observations. Ophthalmoscopic examination disclosed optic atrophy in six of the seven deficient monkeys. Degeneration of the visual pathway was demonstrated by pathological examination in eight of the deficient group of nine (one is still alive). Loss of ganglion cells was noted in the maculae of two of three deficient animals with completed studies. In the three control animals there were neither visual disturbances nor ophthalmoscopic changes and in two animals autopsies disclosed no lesions in the visual pathways. The third animal is still alive and well.