Evaluation of the rhodopsin knockout mouse as a model of pure cone function.

Abstract

From PW4 to 6, Rho(-/-) mice appear to have normal cone and no rod function. Despite the missing rod outer segment (OS), the structure of retina, RPE, and choroid remained unchanged. Therefore, the Rho(-/-) mice can serve during this age period as a model for pure cone function. Such a model is particularly useful to evaluate rod-cone interaction and to dissect rod- from cone-mediated signaling pathways in vivo.