Identification of the blue‐sensitive cones in the mammalian retina by anti‐visual pigment antibody

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Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies to visual pigments produced in our laboratory were applied to analyze the distribution of color‐specific photoreceptor cells in the retina (photoreceptor mosaic). We demonstrated in two ways that the monoclonal antibody OS‐2 specifically recognized the blue‐sensitive cone cells in the mammalian retina. First, rabbit photoreceptors damaged selectively by intense blue light were recognized by OS‐2 antibody. Second, OS‐2‐positive cones in the ground squirrel were those with thick inner segments, which is known to be characteristic of the blue‐sensitive cones. In addition, the OS‐2‐positive cones in monkeys have a distribution and pattern characteristic of blue‐sensitive cones in that species. In several other species (human, rabbit, cow, and pig), the OS‐2‐positive cones represent an appropriate minority of the population of photoreceptor cells. The visual pigment recognized by the OS‐2 antibody had a relative molecular weight of 36,000, as shown by immunoblotting of 3 mammalian species. All other cones were recognized by another monoclonal antibody, COS‐1, which is regarded as specific to middle‐to‐long‐wavelength‐sensitive photoreceptors.