Furthermore, the neuroretina accumulates PrPSc and undergoes degeneration in sCJD and scrapie-infected animal models3, 16, 18–20, providing an experimentally manipulable model to understand the role of PrPC in iron transport and the role of PrPSc and inflammation in retinal iron homeostasis and neuroretinal degeneration. This evidence concerns the gene PRNP and scrapie.