Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
11:22
Vibratome Sectioning Mouse Retina to Prepare Photoreceptor Cultures
Published on: December 22, 2014
Morphogenesis of photoreceptor outer segments in the developing kitten retina
Journal of Anatomy
|May 1, 1983
Summary
Photoreceptor outer segment morphogenesis involves initial vertical lamellae formation, followed by horizontal lamellae at the base. Pigment epithelium ingestion of vertical lamellae results in mature outer segments with only horizontal lamellae.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Photoreceptor outer segments are crucial for vision.
- Understanding their development is key to addressing visual disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the sequential process of photoreceptor outer segment morphogenesis.
- To detail the structural changes during outer segment development in the kitten retina.
Main Methods:
- Examination of serial ultrathin sections.
- Stereopairs of semithin sections were utilized.
- Study focused on the developing kitten retina.
Main Results:
- Outer segments originate from the cilium.
- Initial vertical lamellae form across the entire surface.
- Horizontal lamellae develop at the base, displacing vertical ones.
- Pigment epithelium ingests vertical lamellae during development.
Conclusions:
- A distinct sequence governs photoreceptor outer segment formation.
- The process involves dynamic lamellar rearrangement and cellular interaction.
- Mature photoreceptor outer segments are characterized by horizontal lamellae only.
Related Concept Videos
01:32The Retina
The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.
01:20Anatomy of the Eyeball
The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...