Studies on fragments of rod outer segments from bovine retinas.
Monolayers of fragments of our rod segments were formed at an air-water interface. The area of these particles was measured as a function of the pH of the aqueous phase. A maximum area was measured at pH 6.5. The film was characterised by measuring the decrease in surface pressure, after compression, and the half time required to reach constant pressure. At a pH between 6 and 7 the decrease in surface pressure was a minimum. Irradiation of films of fragments resulted in a decrease in surface potential of between 30 and 40 mV. The largest decrease occured at a pH between 6 and 6.5. A small decrease in surface pressure was also observed upon irradiation. Mixed films of fragments and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were examined. Irradiation of the mixed film resulted in a 70 mV decrease in surface potential.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003624:Darkness; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature