Uptake of 3H-cAMP by Retinal Pigment Epithelium Isolated from Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)
Date
2006-12
Authors
Keith, Thomas A.
Radhakrishnan, Varsha
Moredock, Steve
Garcia, Dana M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central Ltd.
Abstract
Background: In bluegill sunfish, the melanin-containing pigment granules of the retinal pigment epithelium undergo cyclic movements in response both to ambient lighting and circadian cues. Pigment granules aggregate into the cell body at night (in the dark), and disperse into apical processes during the day (in the light). Regulation of pigment granule aggregation in a number of fishes depends on modulating the intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
Results: Here we show isolated RPE takes up cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in a saturable manner, exogenously applied cAMP induces pigment granule aggregation in retinal pigment epithelium isolated from bluegill, and aggregation induced in this manner is inhibited by treatment with probenecid, an organic anion transport inhibitor.
Conclusion: Our results raise the possibility that cAMP functions as a messenger secreted from the neural retina to signal darkness to the RPE, which takes it up. It further suggests that organic anion transport systems are the route by which cAMP crosses RPE cell membranes since probenecid inhibits extracellular cAMP from causing pigment granule aggregation.
Description
Keywords
green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, retinal photoreceptors, Biology
Citation
Keith, T. A., Radhakrishnan, V., Moredock, S., & García, D. M (2006). Uptake of 3H- cAMP by retinal pigment epithelium isolated from bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). BMC Neuroscience. 7(82).
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Rights Holder
© 2006 Keith et al.
Rights License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.