Disc shedding

The disc formations in the outer segment of photoreceptors, which contain the photosensitive opsins, are completely renewed every ten days.

A vertebrate's photoreceptors are divided into three parts: The photosensitive outer segment consists of a series of discrete membranous discs .

Melatonin is synthesized by the photoreceptors at night, and is inhibited by light and dopamine, so triggers cone disc shedding.

Dopamine production is stimulated by light and inhibited by dark and melatonin, so triggers cone disc shedding.

[7] A 2007 paper offers a third theory that builds on recent evidence that suggests that rhodopsin-deficient mice fail to develop OSS.

[2] While the molecular basis underlying rhodopsin's participation in OS development is unknown, emerging evidence suggests that rhodopsin's cytoplasmic C-terminal tail bears an “address signal” for its transport from its site of synthesis in the rod cell body to the OS.