The Retina of the Newborn Human Infant

• DOI: 10.1126/science.6178160
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T18:30:32Z
• Authors: Israel Abramov; James Gordon; Anita Hendrickson; Louise Hainline; Velma Dobson; Eileen LaBossiere
• Keywords: Male; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Staining and Labeling; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Retina

We have examined a pair of eyes from a normal, full-term infant who died at 8 days as a result of accidental injury. Eyes were obtained immediately after death, fixed, and sectioned for light microscopy. Results from both eyes were substantially the same. The macular region was still drastically immature at 1 week. Even though a foveal depression existed, all cell layers were still present across it. Furthermore, the inner nuclear layer was divided into two separate layers. The receptor layer was reduced to one or two cells thick; receptors had both inner and outer segments, but they were very short and stumpy. The region of immaturity covered about 5° of the retina. These findings suggest that the central region of a human infant's retina is probably not fully functional at birth.