• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.31-35
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• 1995

Light signals in the form of intensity gradient, propagation direction, and wavelength elicit diverse mechanical responses ("photomechanical responese") in most organisms. The single cell ciliates, Stentor coeruleus and Blepharisma japonicum, are particularly sensitive to the light of visible wavelengths. In this paper, the way in which the seemingly sophisticated light signal transduction is triggered by the photosensory apparatus will be described in terms of the photoreceptor structure and photochemical function.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.31-34
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• 2000

The heterotrichous ciliate Stentor coeruieus shows a step-up photophobic response to visible light In the previous paper, the existence of GTP-binding proteins was confirmed by using the antisera against the carboxy terminal decapeptide of transducin $\alpha$ subunit. The photoreceptor, stentorin, is localized in the pigment granule. If the immunoreactive G-protein directly interacts with the photoreceptor stentorin, the G-protein expected to be located in the pigment granule rather than plasma membrane. To elucidate the function of the immunoreactive G-protein, the localization of the G-protein in Stentor coeruleus was studied. The results suggest that this G-protein is located in the myoneme involved in the contraction and extension of the cell rather than in the pigment granule.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.284-286
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• 2002

The inverted retina of the Onchidium dorsal eye (DE) is composed only of ciliary-type photoreceptor cells (CC's). The outer segment (OS) of the CC is a concentric lamellar structure consisting of many modified ciliary membranes and stains positively with anti-$\beta$-tubulin antibody. Near the base of the OS there are about 30 basal bodies each connecting individually to a cilium. The cilia are rod-shaped at the base, progressing upwards to a flattened sheet-like shape with increasing surface area. Three-dimensional analysis on serial sections demonstrates the ladle-shape of a modified cilium. Many modified cilia wrap around each other like the leaves of a cabbage. Nine pairs of microtubules (MT's) are located regularly in a ring at the base of the cilium, gradually losing their regular arrangement towards the periphery, where they separate into two subgroups that are contained within two swollen portions of a modified cilium. Within the CC of the Onchidium DE, MT's in the modified cilium exist as two poles extending longitudinally in a thin expanded ciliary membrane. This arrangement may support the photoreceptive OS and serve to maintain its structural integrity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.199-206
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• 2010

망막 질환에서의 줄기세포 치료는 이전까지 치료가 불가능하다고 여겨졌던 환자들에서 시력을 향상시킬 수 있는 가능성 때문에 주목 받고 있다. 본문에서는 망막 전구세포의 분화를 위해 사용되는 태아 줄기세포, 배아줄기세포 및 성체줄기세포 등 다양한 세포 종류와, 내인적, 외인적 인자 및 이식 방법에 대해 논의하였다. 망막색소상피세포뿐만 아니라 시각세포 전구체로 성공적으로 분화시킨 실험적 연구가 보고되고 있다. 줄기세포기반치료는 아직 한계가 있지만 망막 질환 환자에서 시력을 회복하기 위한 보다 근본적인 치료 방법으로 기대되고 있다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.193-199
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• 2015

Degenerative retinal diseases affect millions of people worldwide, which can lead to the loss of vision. However, therapeutic approaches that can reverse this process are limited. Recent efforts have allowed the possibility of the stem cell-based regeneration of retinal cells and repair of injured retinal tissues. Although the direct differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into terminally differentiated photoreceptor cells comprises one approach, a series of studies revealed the intrinsic regenerative potential of the retina using endogenous retinal stem cells. Muller glial cells, ciliary pigment epithelial cells, and retinal pigment epithelial cells are candidates for such retinal stem cells that can differentiate into multiple types of retinal cells and be integrated into injured or developing retina. In this review, we explore our current understanding of the cellular identity of these candidate retinal stem cells and their therapeutic potential for cell therapy against degenerative retinal diseases. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(4): 193-199]

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.1-4
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• 2000

The photosensory ciliates Blepharisma japonicum and Stentor coeruleus use the hypericin-derived pigments blepharismin and stentorin, respectively, as photoreceptor chromophores. Fluorescence quenching studies have shown that the first excited singlet state of hypericin and the purified chromophores blepharismin and stentorin can be deactivated by electron transfer to an acceptor molecule with a suitable reducing potential [1,2]. This paper reports the result of a series of photobehavioral experiments performed with the aim to ascertain if the same electron accepters which quench the photoreceptor pigment fluorescence in vitro may also compete with the native acceptor molecule in its natural physiological environment. Individual cell trajectories were examined before and after light stimulation, in the presence and in the absence of potential "in vivo" electron accepters, with a microvideo-recording apparatus. Our data, on Blepharisma cells, showed that as the negative reduction potential of the electron acceptor increases, a pronounced decrease in cell photoresponsiveness was detected. A dramatic effect on cell photoresponsiveness was noticed in the presence of 1,4-benzoquinone that has the lowest negative reduction potential. Such an effect on the percentage of photoreacting cells was moderate in the case of 1,4-naphthoquinone, with a relatively higher negative reduction potential. In the presence of benzophenone, which has the highest negative reduction potential, no significant effect on photoreacting cells was noticed. Our results can support the hypothesis that in the pigment granules such a light-induced charge transfer from excited blepharismin to a suitable electron acceptor triggers sensory transduction processes in B. japonicum.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.35-42
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• 2007

감간분체 (Rhabdomere)가 왕성하게 형성되는 번데기시기의 Drosophila melanogaster 광수용체 세포를 고정효과가 가장 좋은 high-pressure freezing (HPF)와 freeze-substitution (FS) 기법으로 고정한 후, 초고압 전자현미경을 통하여 1000 KV 전압에서 관찰하였다. 후박절편(250nm)의 tilting image를 통하여 광수용체 세포에서 감간분체 형성의 세가지 형태가 관찰되었다. 첫째로, 감간분체의 육방정계 배열이 (hexagonal may) 서로 다른 각도로 존재하고 있음을 관찰할 수 있었다. 둘째, 광수용체 세포의 세포질 안에서 감간분체 형성의 중간 과정으로 보여지는 작은 조각의 감간분체를 관찰할 수 있었다. 셋째, 감각분체가 여러 개의 층으로 형성되어 있음을 관찰할 수 있었다. 또 광수용체 세포의 세포질에는 최소한 세 가지의 소낭(vesicle)이 존재하였고, 이들 소낭들은 번데기 시기의 감각분체 형성을 주도하는 것으로 확인되었다. 이 결과들에 의하여 소낭이 감각분체 형성과 감각분체의 부분들이 모여서 감각분체를 완성되는 과정에 관여함을 추정할 수 있었다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.491-496
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• 2014

Photobiomodulation utilizes monochromatic (or quasimonochromatic) light in the electromagnetic region of 600~1000 nm for the treatment of soft tissues in a nondestructive and nonthermal mode. It is conceivable that photobiomodulation is based upon the ability of the light to alter cell metabolism as it is absorbed by general hemoproteins and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) in particular. Recently it has been suggested radiation of visible and infrared (IR) activates retrograde signaling pathway from mitochondria to nucleus. In this review, the role of COX in the photobiomodulation will be discussed. Further a possible role of water as a photoreceptor will be suggested.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.127-132
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• 1996

Calcium has a variety of functions in neuron and muscle cells and blood clotting, especially in the visual system where dark adapted rods cotransport with Na$^+$ into the cell. An influx of Ca$^{2+}$ flows out of the cell through the Na$^+$ - Ca$^{2+}$ exchanger. By using a modified Ussing chamber in order to bring in vivo environment close, we have concluded that Ca$^{2+}$ blocks the activity of guanylate cyclase; in consequence, having an effect on the amplitude of electroretinogram (ERG). We suggest that Ca$^{2+}$ moves between the photoreceptor and the vitreous humor by way of certain Ca$^{2+}$ transport mechanisms. Also, the effect of Zn$^{2+}$ in Ca$^{2+}$ - free ringer solution caused an elevation of amplitude in ERG and a reduction of threshold.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.21-30
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• 1998

The effects of GABA and glutamate on the horizontal cells were explored by an intracellular recording method to discern the mechanisms of receptive field formation by chemical coupling in the catfish outer retina. The results suggest that the horizontal cells of the catfish retina might use GABA as their transmitters and that the GABAergic system contributes to the formation of receptive fields of the horizontal cells. GABAC receptors may be involved in a chemical coupling between horizontal cells and concerned with the depolarizing actions by GABA on horizontal cells in the catfish retina. Since the chloride equilibrium potential is more positive than the dark membrane potential in horizontal cells, GABA released from a horizontal cell may depolarize the neighboring horizontal cells. Thus a chemical coupling between horizontal cells may be formed. $GABA_A$ receptors also may be involved in the negative feedback mechanism between photoreceptor and horizontal cell. And glutamate may be involved in connecting positive and negative feedback systems since it potentiated the GABA's actions. Therefore, it is presumed that large receptive fields in the catfish retina are formed not only by electrical coupling but also by chemical coupling between horizontal cells. And information travels laterally by pathways involving both electrical coupling composed of gap junctions and chemical coupling in the retinal network.