scholarly journals Turnover of rod photoreceptor outer segments. I. Membrane addition and loss in relationship to temperature.

1977 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 490-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
J G Hollyfield ◽  
J C Besharse ◽  
M E Rayborn
Keyword(s):  
Small Groups ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Light Cycle ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Concomitant Increase ◽  
Membrane Turnover ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segments ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Electron Microscope Analysis

Membrane turnover in outer segments of Rana pipiens red rods (ROS) was studied in tadpoles maintained under cyclic lighting (12L:12D) at 23 degrees, 28 degrees, and 33 degrees C. Large fragments (greater than 2 microns in diameter or length) were shed from the ROS tips shortly after the onset of light. These were phagocytized by the pigment epithelium (PE) which caused an increase in the number of phagosomes greater than 2 microns in size (large phagosomes). Large phagosomes were present in highest numbers 2-4 h after light exposure and were degraded by 8-12 h. The proportion of ROS that shed each day after the onset of the light cycle increased with increment increases in temperatures (23 degrees C-18%, 28 degrees C-33%, 33 degrees C-42% per day), resulting, in a reduction in the average interval of time between repeated sheddings (23 degrees C-5.6 days, 28 degrees C-3 days, 33 degrees C-2.4 days) though the average numbers of disks shed from ROS at the various temperatures were not significantly different (23 degrees C-139.5 +/- 5.7, 28 degrees C-129.4 +/- 7.6, 33 degrees C-129.9 +/- 4.8 disks/shed packet). Phagosomes in the PE that were less than 2 microns in diameter (small phagosomes) were present in relatively constant numbers throughout the day, and their numbers increased at higher temperatures. The absence of a concomitant increase in small phagosomes as large phagosomes were degraded indicates that large phagosomes were not the major source of small phagosomes. When the PE was isolated to culture in the absence of the retina, these small phagosomes were degraded. The rate of disk addition to the ROS base was determined by autoradiography after [3H]leucine injection. The number of disks added per day increased with elevations of temperature (23 degrees C-32.4; 28 degrees C-55.9; 33 degrees C-65.5). The average number of disks added to the ROS between repeated sheddings (23 degrees C-181.4; 28 degrees C-167.7; 33 degrees C-157.2) was greater than the number of disks shed after light exposure. Inasmuch as the ROS show no net increase in length during the tadpole stages utilized, the remaining disks must be lost at some other time. Electron microscope analysis revealed the presence of small groups of disks in curled configurations at the tips of ROS, suggesting possible stages of detachment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

scholarly journals Turnover of rod photoreceptor outer segments. II. Membrane addition and loss in relationship to light.

1977 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
J C Besharse ◽  
J G Hollyfield ◽  
M E Rayborn
Keyword(s):  
Light Exposure ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Rod Outer Segments ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Daily Rhythms ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segments ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Free Running ◽  
Disk Loss

The rate of disk addition to rod outer segments (ROS) varies widely in Xenopus laevis tadpoles kept in cyclic light (12L:12D). When measured as radioactive band (3H-band) displacement during the 2nd day after injection of [3H]leucine, 75% of the daily increment of displacement occurred during the first 8 h of light. During the same interval, the number of open disks at the ROS base increased more than threefold. During the last 8 h of darkness, 3H-band displacement was undetectable and the number of open disks was reduced. These observations suggest the possibility that disk addition may occur discontinuously. During the 3rd and 4th days after injection of [3H]leucine, maximal displacement of the 3H-band occurred later in the day than on the 2nd day, its movement no longer corresponding to the increase in open disks. This delay in 3H-band displacement may reflect a time delay as a result of propagation of compressive stress in an elastic ROS system. Maximal disk loss from ROS as reflected in counts of phagosomes in the pigment epithelium occurred within 1 h of light exposure, and phagosome counts remained high for 4 h before declining to a low level in darkness. Modified lighting regimes affected the daily rhythms of shedding and disk addition differently, suggesting that control mechanisms for the two processes are not directly coupled. During 3 days in darkness, disk addition was reduced 50% compared to controls (12L:12D), whereas shedding was reduced by about 40%. Although reduced in level, shedding occurred as a free-running circadian rhythm. There was no evidence of rhythmicity of disk addition in darkness. In constant light, the rate of disk addition was not different from controls, but shedding was reduced by about 80% after the 1st day. This resulted in a 21% increase in ROS length. Among animals kept on a 2.5L:21.5D cycle, the rate of disk addition was reduced by 40% while shedding was maintained near control levels, resulting in a slight decrease in ROS length. These observations indicate that normal shedding requires alternating light and darkness, and that the daily rhythm of disk addition is due primarily to daily stimulation by light.

scholarly journals THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK IN THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM CONTROLS THE DIURNAL RHYTHM OF PHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITY

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher DeVera ◽  
Jendayi Dixon ◽  
Micah A. Chrenek ◽  
Kenkichi Baba ◽  
P. Michael Iuvone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Phagocytic Activity ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Optomotor Response ◽  
Rpe Cells ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segments ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Old Mice

AbstractThe diurnal peak of phagocytosis by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of photoreceptor outer segments (POS) is under circadian control, and it is believed that this process involves interactions from both the retina and RPE. Previous studies have demonstrated that a functional circadian clock exists within multiple retinal cell types and RPE cells. Thereby, the aim of the current study was to determine whether the circadian clock in the retina and or RPE controls the diurnal phagocytic peak of photoreceptor outer segments and whether selective disruption of the circadian clock in the RPE would affect RPE cells function and the viability during aging. To that aim, we first generated and validated an RPE tissue-specific KO of the essential clock gene, Bmal1, and then we determined the daily rhythm in phagocytic activity by the RPE in mice lacking a functional circadian clock in the retina or RPE. Then using electroretinography, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography, and optomotor response measurements of visual function we determined the effect of Bmal1 removal in young (6-month old) and old (18-month old) mice. RPE morphology and lipofuscin accumulation was also determined in young and old mice. Our data show that the circadian clock in the RPE controls the daily diurnal phagocytic peak of POS. Surprisingly, the lack of a functional RPE circadian clock or the diurnal phagocytic peak does not result in any detectable age-related degenerative phenotype in the retina or RPE. Thus, our results demonstrate that the loss of the circadian clock in the RPE or the lack of the daily peak in phagocytosis of POS does not result in deterioration of photoreceptors or the RPE during aging.

scholarly journals A Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Based Screening Platform Reveals Inducers of Photoreceptor Outer Segments Phagocytosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1347-1361
Author(s):  
Sven Schreiter ◽  
Katerina Vafia ◽  
Rico Barsacchi ◽  
Stephen H. Tsang ◽  
Marc Bickle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segments ◽  
Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Screening Platform

scholarly journals The occurrence of actinlike filaments in association with migrating pigment granules in frog retinal pigment epithelium

1975 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 705-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Murray ◽  
MW Dubin
Keyword(s):  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Action Spectrum ◽  
Pigment Granule ◽  
Melanin Pigment ◽  
Photoreceptor Outer Segments ◽  
Outer Segments ◽  
Pigment Granules ◽  
Continuous Sheet ◽  
Granule Motion

In the retina of the frog and certain other animals, melanin pigment granules move in response to light so as to shield photoreceptor outer segments. The granules are contained within the cells of the pigment epithelium (PE) which lie as a continuous sheet between the neural retina and the choroid. Moderate illumination of the eye causes the melanin granules to move from a region within a PE cell body into numerous fingerlike extensions of the cell which interdigitate with the receptor outer segments. This migration takes many minutes and is reversed when the light falling on the eye increases in intensity. Several reviews are concerned with the early descriptions of this phenomenon (6,30) and with more recent experiments (1,5,19). The mechanism of the pigment granule motion is undetermined although there are studies concerning PE ultrastructure (8, 23, 31), scanning electron microscopy of the fingerlike extensions of the PE cells (27), the role of the PE in photoreceptor phagocytosis (32), the nature of the pigment granules (19), and the action spectrum of the light which induces the migration (16). This study reports the presence of a system of microfilaments associated with the pigment granules in the fingerlike extensions processes of the PE cells. We demonstrate by heavy meromyosin (HMM) labeling that the filaments are actinlike in character and suggest that these filaments could be responsible for the migration of the melanin pigment granules.

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