Abstract
Phototransduction is the process by which light triggers an electrical signal in a photoreceptor cell. Image-forming vision in vertebrates is mediated by two types of photoreceptors: the rods and the cones. In this review, we provide a summary of the success in which the mouse has served as a vertebrate model for studying rod phototransduction, with respect to both the activation and termination steps. Cones are still not as well-understood as rods partly because it is difficult to work with mouse cones due to their scarcity and fragility. The situation may change, however.
MeSH terms
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Adaptation, Ocular / physiology
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Animals
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Differential Threshold
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Light
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Photoreceptor Cells / cytology
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Photoreceptor Cells / embryology
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Photoreceptor Cells / physiology*
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Refractory Period, Electrophysiological
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Retina / cytology
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Retina / embryology
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Retina / physiology
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Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / cytology
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Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / embryology
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Retinal Pigments / metabolism
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Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / cytology
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Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / embryology
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Rhodopsin / metabolism
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Second Messenger Systems / physiology
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Transducin / metabolism
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Vision, Ocular / physiology*
Substances
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Retinal Pigments
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Rhodopsin
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Transducin