Acid-Sensing ion channels 2 and 4 (Asic 2 Saic 4) are regulated by light in the zebrafish retina

Abstract

Purpose: Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are H+- gated cation channels that monitor deviations from the physiological values of extracellular pH. ASIC genes in zebrafish (zASICs) are expressed in the central nervous system and the retina. pH variations in the retina are thought to be involved in the fine-tunning of visual perception and in the adaptation of the retinal responses to different light-induced retinal degeneration. This study examines the effects of continuous light or darkness exposure in the mRNA levels and cell distribution of ASIC2 and ASIC4 in the retina of adult zebrafish.