POSTMORTEM METABOLIC CAPACITY OF PHOTORECEPTOR CELLS IN HUMAN AND RAT RETINAS

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 19  (11) , 1274-1280
Abstract
Retinas of postmortem human donor eyes retained the high-affinity mechanism for uptake of 3H-taurine, the capacity to synthesize rhodopsin from 14C-amino acids and the ability to incorporate inorganic 32P-phosphate into rhodopsin with exposure to light for 4-4 1/2 h. These processes declined at a rate of about 16-19%/h between 2-4 1/2 h after death. In rats maintained after death at room temperature (22.degree. C) all 3 processes declined linearly at rates of 8-12%/h. In rats maintained after death at body temperature (37.degree. C) or on ice (4.degree. C) the rates of decline in rhodopsin synthesis were 20-22% and 7-9%/h, respectively. The rates of decline of rhodopsin phosphorylation at these temperatures were 20-22% and 3-5%/h, respectively. Retinas from rats maintained after death in light or dark at room temperature showed no differences in their capacity to synthesize or phosphorylate rhodopsin from labeled precursors. In human and rat eyes photoreceptor cells can perform energy-requiring processes for several h after death.