Retina Flashcards
What are retinal pigments formed from?
Opsin - cell specific apoprotein long chain of amino acids
Chromophore derived from vitamin A
What is the rod pigment?
Rhodopsin
Absorption spectrum of the dark adapted retina (peak at 500nm)
What are the inner segment of photoreceptors made up of? Function?
Ellipsoid - energy production (mitochondria are elipse)
Hyoid
Cones vs rods
Opsins in cones differ so that photopigments have maximal sensitivity to red blue or green light
Cone opsins differents from rhodopsin but similar structure
Red and green opsins have high homocology, blur opsin different
What happens to outer segments each morning
Shedding of apical sections of photoreceptor outer segments
In rods maximal 1h after light exposure
Cones 2-3h after darkness
RPE cells phagocytose outer segments followed by digestion by lysosomal acid hydrolases
Differences between rods and cones
Cones 25-100 times less sensitive to single photon
Cones catch fewer photons
Cones have faster kinetics
Cones have grater ability to adapt to background light
Cones do not saturate at normal environmental light levels
What happens after phototransduction by photoreceptors
Motion and contrast information coded at ganglion cell level in rates of action potential.
Graded hyperpolarisation of photoreceptor is converted to phasic ganglion cell activity via various configuration of horizontal and bipolar cells.
What neurotransmitter to photoreceptors and bipolar cells use?
Glutamate
- Glutamate is continuously released by photoreceptors and OFF bipolar cells
Activation by light stimuli decreases glutamate in the synaptic cleft
This is controlled by calcium concentration - increase in Ca2+ causes exocytosis whereas decrease results in more endocytosis
What NT do horizontal and amacrine cells yse?
GABA or glycine - inhibtory
Initial step of glucose metabolism?
Glycolysis (no oxygen required)
Glucose -> pyruvate + 2 ATP + 2 NADH
Pyruvate enters TCA cycle which requires oxygen
- 36 molecules of ATP for each glucose
What pathway is active in rod outer segments for rhodopsin regeneration and protection from oxidative damage
Pentose phosphate pathway
How does glucose enter the retina?
Throught RPE and retinal blood vessels
Facilitated diffusion through the RPE lying over fenestrated vessels of the choroid and endothelial cells of retinal vessels
How can glucose be stored in the retina?
Stored as glycogen in Muller glial cells and some retinal neurones
What are the processes of rod phototransduction?
Rhodopsin phosphorylation
Transducin GTPase
cGMP synthesis
ABCR retinal transport
Na extrusion by NA K pump
How does the outer and inner retina metabolism differ
Outer retina - 80% of glucose results in lactate formation - light decreases glucose consumption by reducing lactate.
Inner retina 70% of glucose is oxidized