Raman vibrational spectroscopic imaging was performed on retinal rod cells isolated from bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana). The Raman spectra enable determination of the lipid and protein rich rod outer segment (ROS) from the nucleus and inner segment of the cell. Peak fitting analysis of spectra obtained from individual rod photoreceptor cells show characteristic vibrational modes that can be associated with cholesterol and docosahexaenoic acid-containing lipids. These results provide direct observations of biomolecular gradients in the rod photoreceptor cells, which, thus far, have been based on indirect detergent extracts and histochemical analysis with indicators such as filipin. The detected biomolecules are associated with regulation of the integral membrane protein rhodopsin, and methods capable of direct observation of these biomolecules offer new routes to exploring their role in the regulation of cellular processes.

对从牛蛙（Rana catesbeiana）中分离的视网膜杆细胞进行拉曼振动光谱成像）。拉曼光谱能够确定细胞核和细胞内段的富含脂质和蛋白质的杆状外段 (ROS)。从单个杆状光感受器细胞获得的光谱的峰值拟合分析显示出可能与胆固醇和含二十二碳六烯酸的脂质相关的特征振动模式。这些结果提供了对杆状感光细胞中生物分子梯度的直接观察，迄今为止，这些结果是基于间接洗涤剂提取物和使用菲律宾等指标的组织化学分析。检测到的生物分子与整合膜蛋白视紫红质的调节有关，能够直接观察这些生物分子的方法为探索它们在细胞过程调节中的作用提供了新的途径。