Action spectrum for light-induced retinal degeneration in dystrophic rats

Rats with an inherited retinal dystrophy were reared under red. green or blue lights and the time course of their retinal degeneration was followed electroretinographically. When light intensities were matched for total energy flux, the retinal degeneration in rats reared under red light was far slower than in those raised under the green and blue light conditions. When the colored lights were matched for equal energy absorbed by rhodopsin, the retinal degeneration of all rats followed an identical time course. The action spectrum for the damaging effect of light therefore follows the rhodopsin absorption curve.