Optic nerve sectioning does not affect the development of the retina

The development of the retina of the albino rat was studied after sectioning of the optic nerves on the 2nd postnatal day. The 2nd day represents a stage at which the retina shows only the ganglion cell layer clearly delineated from an undifferentiated mass. Section of optic nerves at this stage did not affect the subsequent retinal development. Both control and experimental eyes developed at the same pace. Some minor degrees of 'retardation' e.g. the sizes of outer segments, appeared to deviate in the experimental retinae.