title: Effects of light and temperature on the response gradient of retinal rod outer segments.
abstract: Photoreceptor outer segments are continually renewed from base to tip and consequently the membrane at the tip is older than at the base. In parallel with this, there are differences in light responsiveness, and it has been proposed that these may be due to the aforementioned differences in age. We have tested this proposal by manipulating the rates of renewal of the outer segments by exposing Xenopus laevis to different temperature and lighting regimes which are known to affect the rates of their outer segment membrane renewal. We have found that differences of responsiveness are, indeed, correlated with the differences in the age gradients along the outer segments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysical Sciences, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo 14214-3005, USA.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Leibovic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bandarchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D008027:Light; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012374:Rod Cell Outer Segment / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013696:Temperature; D014982:Xenopus laevis