Effect of bleaching on the width and index of refraction of goldfish rod and cone outer segment fragments

Data on goldfish rod and cone fragments were obtained before and after a strong bleach by using a Zeiss Jamin-Lebedeff infrared interference microscope and computer image processing techniques. The receptor fragments were fractured in the inner segment and were immersed in goldfish aqueous humor medium. On bleaching we found that: (1) there is a small increase in rod diameter. This effect is of the same magnitude reported earlier in Rana pipiens outer segments (Vision Res 1973; 13:171). (2) There is an inferred decrease in rod refractive index. (3) There is a decrease in cone width. (4) There is a slight increase in inferred cone refractive index. These data are presented.