[Age characteristics of the structure of the human retina]

Cytological, histochemical and neurohistological methods were used to study the human retina (27 corpses of people from 60 to 80 years of age). Two retinas from people of 32 and 27 years served as controls. The activity of alkaline phosphatase in neurons was established to increases with age. There were also enlargement of cysts and an increase of the square surface of their distribution in the retina, numerous aneurysmatic swelling along the course of the retinal capillaries. The nerve elements of the retina degenerated more often with age and partly died. Varicosities and excessively growing enlarged terminals were found along the course of dendritic and axonic processes. In the macular zone there were hypertrophicsynapses and circularly running sinuous fine fibres. Solitary ganglionic cells in this region had dendrites directed toward on side-they ere asymmetrical. The astrocytigglia was not changed. The fovea bottom contained may Muller's cells. Possible interpretation of the mechanism of appearance of vaicosities and excrescences in the nerve fibres with age age is presented.