We investigated the effects of VPA on <i>Xenopus laevis</i> models of RP expressing human P23H, T17M, T4K, and Q344ter rhodopsins, which are associated with RP in humans.
Photoactivation-induced instability of rhodopsin mutants T4K and T17M in rod outer segments underlies retinal degeneration in X. laevis transgenic models of retinitis pigmentosa.
Many vertebrate models of retinal degeneration have been created through expression of RP-linked rhodopsins in photoreceptors including, but not limited to, VPP/GHL mice, P23H Rhodopsin frogs, P23H rhodopsin rats, S334ter rhodopsin rats, C185R rhodopsin mice, T17M rhodopsin mice, and P23H rhodopsin mice.