LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE MODULATED STAINING OF THE ROD OUTER SEGMENT DISTAL TIPS WITH LUCIFER YELLOW

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (5) , 628-635
Abstract
External application of the dye Lucifer yellow to isolated retinas of Xenopus laevis causes a specific staining of the distal tips of the rod outer segment (ROS). Staining occurs most frequently in the distal 4 .mu.m of the ROS and does not diffuse throughout the ROS cytosol. In contrast, damaged ROS fill with the dye and exhibit a diffuse fluorescence. Retinas from constant light-treated animals show a greater frequency of distal tip staining for dark-treated animals can be achieved if animals are returned to the light. Distal tip labeling also occurs in cyclic-light maintained animals but at a much lower frequency. The frequency of distal tip staining can also be altered by temperature and metabolic poisons, iodoacetate or dinitrophenol, exhibited a reduced frequency of staining. Staining is an active process involving cellular metabolism. The distal location, dimensions and light dependence of staining suggests that labeled regions are destined for detachment as part of disc shedding. Sensitivity of distal tip staining to metabolic poisons suggests that the photoreceptor plays a role in determining the membrane domains destined for shedding.

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