Rhodopsin determinations in C57BL/6J-pallid strain mice.

The influence of light environment on rhodopsin concentration per eye was determined in littermate pigmented and nonpigmented C57BL/6J-pallid gene mice reared under cyclic light or continuous dark environments. Attempts to exacerbate a congenital manganese deficiency in pallid strain mice included dietary deprivation and supplementation with manganese and exposure to intense light followed by the determination of rhodopsin recovery rates in darkness. Homozygous pallid mice (pa/pa) reared in cyclic light had rhodopsin levels which were significantly lower than heterozygous (+/pa) or homozygous (+/+) black control mice. Dark-rearing resulted in a significant increase in rhodopsin per eye in pallid strain mice and equivalent levels in adult mice, but young pallid strain mice did not achieve the same rhodopsin concentration as young +/+ mice. Although dietary manganese deprivation or supplementation did not significantly alter rhodopsin levels among pallid mice, the deficient diet resulted in lower rhodopsin per eye in the young +/+ control animals. The recovery of rhodopsin in darkness following intense light exposure was equal and complete within 24 hr for most genotypes. However, recovery by pallid mice after 24 hr was significantly lower than by pigmented or albino genotypes.