Summary
The86Rb efflux from isolated Sepia retina incubated in artificial sea water was raised 1.7–4.8 fold upon illumination with light of intensities ranging from 5×1012 to 5.6×1015 effective photons/cm2/sec. There was a simultaneous fall of 6% in the rubidium content.
Addition of retinaldehyde (10−4M) or dinitrofluorobenzene (2×10−3 M) gave 45% and 35% increases in the dark efflux rate. Retinol (10−4 M) gave a smaller effect and retinoic acid (10−4 M) was without effect.
The presence of ouabain (10−4 M) reduced the effect of light on the efflux rate. This effect could be explained by the decreased rubidium concentration gradient across the membrane.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bonting, S. L.: The mechanism of the visual process. Curr. Topics Bioenerg.3, 351 (1969).
—, Bangham, A. D.: On the biochemical mechanism of the visual process. Exp. Eye Res.6, 400 (1967).
Brown, P. K., Brown, P. S.: Visual pigments of the octopus and cuttlefish. Exp. (Lond.)182, 1288 (1958).
Brown, H. M., Meech, R. W., Koike H., Hagiwara, S.: Current-voltage relations during illumination: photoreceptor membrane of a barnacle. Science166, 240 (1969).
Daemen, F. J. M., Bonting, S. L.: Biochemical aspects of the visual process. III. Specificity of the retinaldehyde effect on cation movements in rod outer segments. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)163, 212 (1968).
——: Biochemical aspects of the visual process. IV. Aldehydes and cation permeability of artificial, phospholipid micelles. Biochim. biophs. Acta (Amst.)183, 90 (1969).
Duncan, G.: Kinetics of potassium movement across amphibian lens membranes. Exp. Eye Res.8, 413 (1969).
—, Bonting, S. L.: Photoreception in Limulus: Role of an electrogenic sodium pump? Science164, 1188 (1969).
—, de Pont, J. J. H. H. M., Bonting, S. L.: Biochemical aspects of the visual process. X. Distribtion and movements of ions in the dark-adapted retina in the cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Pflügers Arch.322, 264 (1971).
Hagins, W. A.: Electrical signs of information flow in photoreceptors. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol.30, 403 (1965).
—, Adams, R. G.: Movements of24Na and42K in the squid retina. Biol. Bull.119, 316 (1960).
—, Zonana, H. V., Adams, R. G.: Local membrane current in the outer segments of squid photoreceptors. Nature (Lond.)194, 844 (1962).
Hubbard, R., St. George, R. C. C.: The rhodopsin system of the squid. J. gen. Physiol.41, 501 (1958).
Millecchia, R., Mauro, A.: The ventral photoreceptor cells of Limulus. III. A voltage clamp study. J. gen. Physiol.54, 331 (1969).
Sjodin, R. A., Mullins, L. J.: Tracer and nontracer potassium fluxes in squid giant axons and the effects of changes in external potassium concentrations and membrane potential. J. gen. Physiol.50, 533 (1967).
Smith, T. G., Stell, W. K., Brown, J. E., Freeman, J. A., Murray, J. C.: A role for the sodium pump in photoreception in Limulus. Science162, 454 (1968).
Wulff, V. J., Mendez, C.: Visual receptor potential: Modification by injected current in the Limulus lateral eye. Science168, 1351 (1970).
Young, J. Z.: The retina of cephalopods and its degeneration after optic nerve section. Phil. Trans. B245, 1 (1962).
Zonana, H. V.: Fine structure of the squid retina. Bull. John Hopk. Hosp.109, 185 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Pont, J.J.H.H.M., Duncan, G. & Bonting, S.L. Biochemical aspects of the visual process. Pflugers Arch. 322, 278–286 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00602075
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00602075