When these data are combined with the finding that expression of the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme SOD2 as well as expression of other intrinsic mitochondrial proteins, such as AGC1 and mAST (enzymes involved in the malate-aspartate shuttle) and mitochondrial creatine kinase were also drastically abrogated during retinal detachment, it must be concluded that detachment likely causes a profound decrease in the number of functional mitochondria in rat photoreceptor inner segments, as has previously been described in feline retina (Fisher et al., 2005). This evidence concerns the gene SLC25A12 and retinal detachment.