Delayed dark adaptation in 11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase-deficient mice -: A role of RDH11 in visual processes in vivo

The oxidation of 11-cis-retinol to 11-cis-retinal in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) represents the final step in a metabolic cycle that culminates in visual pigment regeneration. Retinol dehydrogenase 5 (RDH5) is responsible for a majority of the 11-cis-RDH activity in the RPE, but the formation of 11-cis-retinal in rdh5(-/-) mice suggests another enzyme(s) is present. We have previously shown that RDH11 is also highly expressed in RPE cells and has dual specificity for both cis- and trans-retinoid substrates. To investigate the role of RDH11 in the retinoid cycle, we generated rdh11(-/-) and rdh5(-/-) rdh11(-/-) mice and examined their electrophysiological responses to various intensities of illumination and during dark adaptation. Retinoid profiles of dark-adapted rdh11(-/-) mice did not show significant differences compared with wild-type mice, whereas an accumulation of cis-esters was detected in rdh5(-/-) and rdh5(-/-) rdh11(-/-) mice. Following light stimulation, 73% more cis-retinyl esters were stored in rdh5(-/-) rdh11(-/-) mice compared with rdh5(-/-) mice. Single-flash ERGs of rdh11(-/-) showed normal responses under dark- and light-adapted conditions, but exhibited delayed dark adaptation following high bleaching levels. Double knockout mice also had normal ERG responses in dark- and light-adapted conditions, but had a further delay in dark adaptation relative to either rdh11(-/-) or rdh5(-/-) mice. Taken together, these results suggest that RDH11 has a measurable role in regenerating the visual pigment by complementing RDH5 as an 11-cis-RDH in RPE cells, and indicate that an additional unidentified enzyme(s) oxidizes 11- cis- retinol or that an alternative pathway contributes to the retinoid cycle.