Fluorescence from colorless oil droplets: a new criterion for identification of cone photoreceptors.
Vertebrate retinal photoreceptors containing colorless oil droplets have often been described as blue-sensitive. This identification is reexamined by intracellular recording and Lucifer yellow dye injections in turtle retina. Contrary to previous reports, the majority of the cones with colorless oil droplets were found to be red-sensitive; only one-third of the cones sampled were blue-sensitive. In addition, colorless oil droplets contained in the red-sensitive cones displayed a bright green fluorescence upon near-ultraviolet irradiation, while those of the blue-sensitive cones did not fluoresce.
D000818:Animals; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009821:Oils / Q000378:metabolism; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D014426:Turtles / Q000502:physiology*
D009821:Oils