Figure 4. Rod and cone opsin transcript levels

Effects of kainic acid (KA) treatment on the daily rhythms of opsin mRNAs in saline-injected eyes (white circles) and in KA injected eyes (black circles). Rhodopsin (A), medium wavelength (mwl) opsin (B), and short wavelength (swl) opsin (C) mRNAs were rhythmic in LD (Kruskall-Wallis, p<0.05) in saline treated retina. KA dramatically affected the transcription of mwl and swl opsins p<0.01, whereas rhodopsin mRNA were not significantly affected. In KA-treated retina rhodopsin mRNA levels were rhythmic (Kruskall-Wallis, p<0.05), whereas mwl and swl opsins mRNA did not show any significant rhythmicity (Kruskall-Wallis test, p>0.1). The white bar at the top of the graph represents the period of light, while the black bars represent period of darkness. mRNA levels were measured using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Mean values are plotted with 4 animals per time; error bars represent the SEM. Values for rhodopsin and mwl opsin transcript levels were normalized with respect to levels observed at zeitgeber time (ZT) 12 in saline-treated retinas; values for swl opsin mRNA were normalized to levels observed at ZT18 in saline-treated retinas.