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Light-induced calcium release in a photosensitive vertebrate smooth muscle

Nature volume 274, pages 78–80 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

THE involvement of calcium in the transduction process in vertebrate photoreceptors, in particular rods, has been postulated by Yoshikami and Hagins1, who suggest that this cation is sequestered in the membranous disks of the outer segment and released on stimulation by light. Recently, evidence supporting this hypothesis was obtained by Fishman et al.2 who, using an electron microscopic technique3–5 for the localisation of calcium, showed precipitate within the disks of frog rod outer segments. However, they did not explore the possibility of a light-induced decrease of calcium within the disks, which would have further supported the hypothesis. We report here evidence for the involvement of calcium in the phototransduction process in a unique vertebrate photoreceptive system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, 80262

    RICHARD ZUCKER & JOHN NOLTE

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  1. RICHARD ZUCKER
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  2. JOHN NOLTE
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ZUCKER, R., NOLTE, J. Light-induced calcium release in a photosensitive vertebrate smooth muscle. Nature 274, 78–80 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274078a0

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