Melanopsin Is Required for Non-Image-Forming Photic Responses in Blind Mice
Abstract
Although mice lacking rod and cone photoreceptors are blind, they retain many eye-mediated responses to light, possibly through photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. These cells express melanopsin, a photopigment that confers this photosensitivity. Mice lacking melanopsin still retain nonvisual photoreception, suggesting that rods and cones could operate in this capacity. We observed that mice with both outer-retinal degeneration and a deficiency in melanopsin exhibited complete loss of photoentrainment of the circadian oscillator, pupillary light responses, photic suppression of arylalkylamine- N -acetyltransferase transcript, and acute suppression of locomotor activity by light. This indicates the importance of both nonvisual and classical visual photoreceptor systems for nonvisual photic responses in mammals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 25, 2003
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.1086179
Entities
People
- Ana Maria Castrucci
- Daniel C. Tu
- Ignacio Provencio
- John B. Hogenesch
- Mark D. Rollag
- Mary Andahazy
- Mathew T. Pletcher
- Russell N. Van Gelder
- Satchidananda Panda
- Steve A. Kay
- Susana S. Pires
- Tim Wiltshire
- Trey K. Sato
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences