Abstract
The effect of ions on the light-sensitive current of retinal rods was studied by sucking the inner segment into a tightly fitting capillary with the outer segment projecting into a flowing solution. This new method showed that the light-sensitive pathway, in which Na+ is them normal carrier of current, has an ionic selectivity different from that of other known sodium channels. External calcium has a striking effect on the current, which increased about 20-fold when all calcium was removed. Reducing the sodium concentration gradient greatly prolonged the response to a flash of light, as would be expected if internal calcium blocks sodium channels and if light releases calcium which is subsequently extruded by a sodium–calcium exchange mechanism.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Yau, K.-W., Lamb, T. D. & Baylor, D. A. Nature 269, 78–80 (1977).
Baylor, D. A., Lamb, T. D. & Yau, K.-W. J. Physiol., Lond. 288, 589–611 (1979).
Arden, G. B. & Ernst, W. Nature 223, 528–531 (1969).
Sillman, A. J., Ito, H. & Tomita, T. Vision Res. 9, 1443–1451 (1969).
Yoshikami, S. & Hagins, W. A. Abstr. 14th a. Meet. biophys. Soc. WPM-13 (1970).
Korenbrot, J. I. & Cone, R. A. J. gen. Physiol. 60, 20–45 (1972).
Cervetto, L. Nature 241, 401–403 (1973).
Capovilla, M., Cervetto, L., Pasino, E. & Torre, V. J. Physiol., Lond. 317, 223–242 (1981).
Brown, J. E. & Pinto, L. H. J. Physiol., Lond. 236, 575–591 (1974).
Fain, G. L. & Lisman, J. E. Prog. Biophys. molec. Biol. 37, 91–147 (1981).
Hodgkin, A. L. & Katz, B. J. Physiol., Lond. 108, 37–77 (1949).
Chandler, W. K. & Meves, H. J. Physiol., Lond. 180, 788–820 (1965).
Hille, B. J. gen. Physiol. 59, 637–658 (1972).
Frankenhaeuser, B. J. Physiol., Lond. 160, 40–45 (1962).
Yoshikami, S. & Hagins, W. A. in Biochemistry and Physiology of Visual Pigments (ed. Langer, H.) 245–255 (Springer, New York, 1973).
Hagins, W. A. & Yoshikami, S. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 307, 545–561 (1978).
Baylor, D. A., Mathews, G. & Yau, K.-W. J. Physiol., Lond. 309, 591–621 (1980).
Gold, G. H. & Korenbrot, J. I. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 5557–5561 (1980).
Yoshikami, S., George, J. S. & Hagins, W. A. Nature 286, 395–398 (1980).
Blaustein, M. P. & Hodgkin, A. L. J. Physiol., Lond. 200, 497–527 (1969).
Baker, P. F. & McNaughton, P. A. J. Physiol., Lond. 259, 103–144 (1976).
Daemen, F. J. M., Schnetkamp, P. P. M. & Bonting, S. L. in Vertebrate Photoreception (eds Barlow, H. B. & Fatt, P.) 29–40 (Academic, London, 1977).
Baker, P. F., Blaustein, M. P., Hodgkin, A. L. & Steinhardt, R. A. J. Physiol., Lond. 200, 431–458 (1969).
Lipton, S. A., Ostroy, S. E. & Dowling, J. E. J. gen. Physiol. 70, 747–770 (1977).
Hagins, W. A. A. Rev. Biophys. Bioengng 1, 131–158 (1972).
Hubbell, W. L. & Bownds, M. D. A. Rev. Neurosci. 2, 17–34 (1979).
Lipton, S. A., Rasmussen, H. & Dowling, J. E. J. gen. Physiol. 70, 771–791 (1977).
Miller, W. H. & Nicol, G. D. Nature 280, 64–66 (1979).
Martell, A. E. & Smith, R. M. Critical Stability Constants Vol. 1 (Plenum, New York, 1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yau, KW., McNaughton, P. & Hodgkin, A. Effect of ions on the light-sensitive current in retinal rods. Nature 292, 502–505 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/292502a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/292502a0
This article is cited by
-
Investigating the Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent mechanisms for mammalian cone light adaptation
Scientific Reports (2018)
-
Phototransduction in mouse rods and cones
Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology (2007)
-
Regulation of bovine rod outer segment membrane guanylate cyclase by ATP, phosphodiesterase and metal ions
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (1995)
-
Modulation of guanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase by monovalent cations and nucleoside triphosphates in light-sensitive excised patches of rod outer segments
Pfl�gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology (1994)
-
Four cases of direct ion channel gating by cyclic nucleotides
Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes (1991)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.