Accession Number:

ADA235682

Title:

Fundamental Studies in the Molecular Basis of Laser Induced Retinal Damage

Descriptive Note:

Midterm rept. 1 Nov 1987-30 Apr 1989

Corporate Author:

HEBREW UNIV-HADASSAH HOSPITAL JERUSALEM (ISRAEL) HADASSAH LASER CENTER

Personal Author(s):

• Lewis, Aaron

Report Date:

1989-12-30

Pagination or Media Count:

62.0

Abstract:

The January 1988 issue of Physics Today featured our work on the biophysics of visual photoreception. In this work we investigated the absorption of a single photon by a pigment molecule called rhodopsin in a photoreceptor cell in the retina. The retina is where the excitation of visual sensation begins, where single photons are amplified, where the eye adapts to light levels and generates a partially processed signal to the brain. Except for the partial processing of the image, these functions of the retina occur largely in a cell called the photoreceptor, which absorbs and amplifies the photon and transduces it to a neural response. We also explore the absorption and surface-enhanced Raman spectra of mono-layers of retinal and styryl pyridinium dyes were obtained. The results have yielded new information on the absorption properties of these highly polarizable molecules. Information on the structure of the monolayer films have been deduced from the vibrational spectra.

Descriptors:

• *VISUAL PERCEPTION
• *RETINA
• MOLECULES
• CELLS
• PROCESSING
• EXCITATION
• LIGHT
• FILMS
• PHYSICS
• RESPONSE
• SIGNALS
• LEVEL(QUANTITY)
• PHOTONS
• NERVOUS SYSTEM
• EYE
• ABSORPTION
• PIGMENTS
• FROGS
• LASER DAMAGE
• BIOPHYSICS
• VIBRATIONAL SPECTRA
• PHOTORECEPTORS
• TURTLES
• BRAIN
• LAYERS

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE