The uncommon retina of the common house mouse

Trends Neurosci. 2001 May;24(5):248-50. doi: 10.1016/s0166-2236(00)01773-2.

Abstract

Unlike most mammals, most cones in house mouse retina express two opsins, one sensitive to UV-light, and another sensitive to middle-wavelengths. Is the mouse unique, having a single cone type that normally expresses two opsins? Or is the mouse a typical mammal having two cone types, but a species wide mutation results in co-expression of two opsins?

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Color Perception / genetics*
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mutation / physiology
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / chemistry
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiology*
  • Rod Opsins / genetics*

Substances

  • Rod Opsins