The effect of light intensity upon the oxygen consumption of the isolated outersegments of rods

Abstract

In 1952 Kimura6) reported a new method of separating the outersegments of rods from retinal tissue. This method enables us to study the metabolism of the outersegments of rods, because the outersegments of rods were separated and collected in the pure state by this method. It has been pointed out in the previous publication2) that the oxygen consumption of the isolated outersegments of rods was very active in the dark condition, but it was inhibited during the illumination. Furthermore, it was found that glutamate had an augmentative effect on the inhibition caused by the illumination3,4). On the other hand, Lowry et al.7) reported that glutamate contained in the monkey's outer retinal layers is half to two-thirds as concentrated as in average brain (60 m moles per kilo, dry weight). In order to gain a more precise view on the role of glutamate in this reaction, a detailed investigation has been made on relationship between the illuminated light intensity and the oxygen consumption rate of the isolated outersegments of rods. © 1961, PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.