Multiple mechanisms of rhabdom shedding in the lateral eye of Limulus polyphemus.

Rhabdom shedding in horseshoe crab lateral eye photoreceptors was studied with anti-opsin and anti-arrestin immunocytochemistry. Two, possibly three, distinct shedding mechanisms were revealed in animals maintained in natural lighting. Transient rhabdom shedding, triggered by dawn, is a brief, synchronous event that removes up to 10% of the rhabdom membrane.