Bleaching desensitization: background and current challenges.
"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.
Pepperberg
David R
DR
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
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*
D012243:Rhodopsin; D012172:Retinaldehyde