[Phagocytes]
Date Of Production
1950s
Abstract
Microscopic time-lapse footage which displays pigment epithelial cell activity in the retina of a rabbit's eye. John Nash Ott incorporated the footage into Exploring the Spectrum Part III (1988).
Description
This film is a product of John Nash Ott's research on the effects of exposure to various wavelengths of light on the pigment epithelial cells in the retina of a rabbit's eye, findings of which Ott published in 1964.
In Exploring The Spectrum III, Ott's narration elaborates on the nature of the cell activity:
"These pictures were taken using a phase-contrast microscope with an orange-red filter in the light source. They are part of a research project originally intended to study the effect of adding various tranquilizers into the growth media of tissue cultures of the pigment epithelial cells in the retina of a rabbit's eye. However, the study revealed that the color or wavelength of the microscope light source caused greater side effects and abnormal growth responses than the tranquilizing drugs tested.
The fact that the activity you see in these pictures happened to show up like this when I used an orange-red filter in the light source may be of particular interest. When I used a blue filter, you can see a similar but slightly different activity in what also appears to be a different type of white blood cell or leukocyte. There are a number of different types of leukocytes."
In 1973, Tampa Bay Times reporter Fred Girard remarked on Ott's pigment epithelial cell studies:
"Ott's research indicates that lighting can have a definite effect on both physical and mental well-being. While trying desperately to stay away from any taint of the quack or the faith-healer, he nonetheless has recorded what appear near-miraculous cures in cancer, mental illness, arthritis, blindness, leukemia, exophthalmic goiter and even receding hairlines.
The connection to all these disparate maladies and countless others is the pigment epithelial cells of the eye. The existence of the cells has been known for some time, but their function remained a mystery. They played no part in vision, and hence were never studied extensively. Anatomists discovered the presence of neurochemical channels leading from the eye to the brain, but again no purpose or function was found.
It remained for John Ott to discover the connection. The pigment epithelial cells of the eye, Ott postulates, pick up light and transmit it through the neurochemical channels to the two master glands of the body, the pituitary and the pineal. The presence of certain rays from the light spectrum activates production of hormones by the glands, with resultant mental and physical manifestations."
In Exploring The Spectrum III, Ott's narration elaborates on the nature of the cell activity:
"These pictures were taken using a phase-contrast microscope with an orange-red filter in the light source. They are part of a research project originally intended to study the effect of adding various tranquilizers into the growth media of tissue cultures of the pigment epithelial cells in the retina of a rabbit's eye. However, the study revealed that the color or wavelength of the microscope light source caused greater side effects and abnormal growth responses than the tranquilizing drugs tested.
The fact that the activity you see in these pictures happened to show up like this when I used an orange-red filter in the light source may be of particular interest. When I used a blue filter, you can see a similar but slightly different activity in what also appears to be a different type of white blood cell or leukocyte. There are a number of different types of leukocytes."
In 1973, Tampa Bay Times reporter Fred Girard remarked on Ott's pigment epithelial cell studies:
"Ott's research indicates that lighting can have a definite effect on both physical and mental well-being. While trying desperately to stay away from any taint of the quack or the faith-healer, he nonetheless has recorded what appear near-miraculous cures in cancer, mental illness, arthritis, blindness, leukemia, exophthalmic goiter and even receding hairlines.
The connection to all these disparate maladies and countless others is the pigment epithelial cells of the eye. The existence of the cells has been known for some time, but their function remained a mystery. They played no part in vision, and hence were never studied extensively. Anatomists discovered the presence of neurochemical channels leading from the eye to the brain, but again no purpose or function was found.
It remained for John Ott to discover the connection. The pigment epithelial cells of the eye, Ott postulates, pick up light and transmit it through the neurochemical channels to the two master glands of the body, the pituitary and the pineal. The presence of certain rays from the light spectrum activates production of hormones by the glands, with resultant mental and physical manifestations."
Run Time
3 min 29 sec
Format
16mm
Extent
125 feet
Color
Color
Sound
Silent
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Genre
Subject
Related Collections
Related Places
Main Credits
Ott, John Nash Jr. (is filmmaker)
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