Action of light on frog pigment cells in culture.
Solar radiation induces numerous biologic effects in skin but the mechanism underlying these responses is poorly understood. To study the etiology of these phenomena, we investigated the effect of light on cultured Xenopus laevis melanophores. Visible light stimulated a marked increase in intracellular cAMP levels within the first minute of irradiation. This light-induced elevation in cAMP was blocked by melatonin and was not seen in fibroblasts irradiated in a similar manner. These data show that the photoresponse of pigment cells from amphibian skin can be mediated by a cAMP-dependent mechanisms and suggest that a unique member of the rhodopsin family is involved in this process.
Daniolos
A
A
Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Lerner
A B
AB
Lerner
M R
MR
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D008547:Melanophores / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D008934:Mitogens; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D012243:Rhodopsin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D008550:Melatonin