Figure 1. Antioxidant feeding and light rearing paradigms. Weanling rats were maintained in a 12 h cyclic light environment, consisting
of either 20 lux or 200 lux white light, for 6 weeks and given supplemental antioxidants on a daily basis. Following dark
adaptation, rats were exposed to 9 k lux white light for 6 h and then allowed to recover in darkness for 2 days or 2 weeks.
Animals were euthanized in a saturated CO2 atmosphere, and their retinas excised under dim red light. The extent of visual cell survival was determined by retinal DNA
measurements and histology 2 weeks after light exposure. Western blot analysis was at various times before or after photooxidative
stress, whereas gene array profiles were determined using tissues excised after 6 weeks of dietary supplements, but without
exposure to intense light.