title: Ionic current model of the vertebrate rod photoreceptor.
abstract: We describe voltage- and calcium-dependent ionic currents in the photoreceptor inner segments similar to the Hodgkin and Huxley (Journal of Physiology, 117, 500-544, 1952) equations. The model is used to describe both rods and cones by adjusting parameters. To simulate the light response, the inner segment model was connected with the phototransduction model proposed by Torre et al. (Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology, 55, 563-573, 1990). The role of individual ionic currents in the inner segment in shaping the light response was analyzed through computer simulations. The results suggest that: (1) the transient hyperpolarization to a bright flash is generated by Ih; (2) the oscillation after prolonged hyperpolarization in rods results from the interaction among Ica, IK(Ca), and ICI(Ca). Since the present model describes the biophysical processes from phototransduction to voltage response, the model can be used for analyzing the light response properties of the photoreceptors quantitatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Information and Computer Sciences, Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000502:physiology; D008433:Mathematics; D008959:Models, Neurological; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium