Figure 1.

Antioxidant feeding and light rearing paradigms. Weanling rats were maintained in a 12 h cyclic light environment, consisting of either 20 lux or 200 lux white light, for 6 weeks and given supplemental antioxidants on a daily basis. Following dark adaptation, rats were exposed to 9 k lux white light for 6 h and then allowed to recover in darkness for 2 days or 2 weeks. Animals were euthanized in a saturated CO₂ atmosphere, and their retinas excised under dim red light. The extent of visual cell survival was determined by retinal DNA measurements and histology 2 weeks after light exposure. Western blot analysis was at various times before or after photooxidative stress, whereas gene array profiles were determined using tissues excised after 6 weeks of dietary supplements, but without exposure to intense light.