title: Bleaching desensitization: background and current challenges.
abstract: "Bleaching desensitization" in rod photoreceptors refers to the prolonged depression of phototransduction sensitivity exhibited by rods after their exposure to bright light, i.e., after photolysis (bleaching) of a substantial fraction of rhodopsin in the outer segments. Rod recovery from bleaching desensitization depends critically on operation of the retinoid visual cycle: in particular, on the removal of all-trans retinal bleaching product from opsin and on the delivery of 11-cis retinal to opsin's chromophore binding site. The present paper summarizes representative findings that address the mechanism of bleaching desensitization.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, 1855 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. davipepp@uic.edu
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Pepperberg
mesh_terms: D003623:Dark Adaptation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010782:Photolysis; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012243:Rhodopsin; D012172:Retinaldehyde