Autoradiographic and biochemical assessment of rod outer segment renewal in the vitiligo (C57BL/6-mi^vit/mi^vit) mouse model of retinal degeneration

Rod outer segment renewal was assessed in vitiligo (C57BL/6-mi^vit/mi^vit) mice using autoradiographic and biochemical methods. This process was examined because the number of phagosomes is reduced in this mouse. Rod outer segment renewal was detectable in the mi^vit/mi^vit retina. Within 24 hr of intraperitoneal injection of ³H leucine, there was a distinct band of radioactivity present at the junction of the ROS and RIS in mutant mice that was similar to controls. The displacement of the radioactive band progressed normally in the peripheral regions of the vitiligo retina, but did not in the posterior retina. Morphometric analysis of the posterior region of mutant retinas, indicated that the band of radioactivity became less distinct between 1 and 3 days post-injection. In vitiligo retinas it remained at 2·23 μm, whereas in controls, the band migrated 6·16 μm from the ROS base. When posterior regions of retinas were evaluated 8 days post-injection, there was no band discernible in the vitiligo retinas, but a very dense band at the ROS apex in controls. Assessment of incorporation of radioactivity into rhodopsin using SDS-PAGE indicated a progressive displacement of radio-labeled rhodopsin through the RER, but not as complete a progression through the outer segments. The elongation of the outer segments in the posterior regions of the mutant retina suggests impaired shedding. This, plus the lack of attachment in the posterior retina of photoreceptor cells to RPE in this mouse, seem to be likely causes for the decreased number of phagosomes.