Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity
The avian magnetic compass allows orientation during migration and is shown to function properly under short-wavelength but not long-wavelength visible light. Therefore, the magnetoreceptive system is assumed to be light- and wavelength-dependent and localized in the retina of the eye. Putative cand...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/19/3056 |
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| author | Alexander Yu. Rotov Arsenii A. Goriachenkov Roman V. Cherbunin Michael L. Firsov Nikita Chernetsov Luba A. Astakhova |
| author_facet | Alexander Yu. Rotov Arsenii A. Goriachenkov Roman V. Cherbunin Michael L. Firsov Nikita Chernetsov Luba A. Astakhova |
| author_sort | Alexander Yu. Rotov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The avian magnetic compass allows orientation during migration and is shown to function properly under short-wavelength but not long-wavelength visible light. Therefore, the magnetoreceptive system is assumed to be light- and wavelength-dependent and localized in the retina of the eye. Putative candidates for the role of primary magnetosensory molecules are the cryptochromes that are known to be expressed in the avian retina and must be able to interact with phototransduction proteins. Previously, we reported that in migratory birds change in magnetic field direction induces significant effects on electroretinogram amplitude in response to blue flashes, and such an effect was observed only in the nasal quadrant of the retina. Here, we report new electroretinographic, microscopic and microspectrophotometric data on European robins, confirming the magnetosensitivity of the retinal nasal quadrant after applying the background illumination. We hypothesized that magnetoreceptive distinction of this region may be related to its morphology and analyzed the retinal distribution and optical properties of oil droplets, the filtering structures within cones. We found that the nasal quadrant contains double cones with the most intensely colorized oil droplets compared to the rest of the retina, which may be related to its magnetosensory function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:53:48Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:53:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-65d8ba904b124f5a95d4cb1be1b9dcd32023-11-23T20:01:58ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-09-011119305610.3390/cells11193056Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-HomogeneityAlexander Yu. Rotov0Arsenii A. Goriachenkov1Roman V. Cherbunin2Michael L. Firsov3Nikita Chernetsov4Luba A. Astakhova5Laboratory of Evolution of the Sense Organs, Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, 194223 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory of Evolution of the Sense Organs, Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, 194223 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory of Evolution of the Sense Organs, Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, 194223 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory of Evolution of the Sense Organs, Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, 194223 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory of Evolution of the Sense Organs, Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, 194223 St. Petersburg, RussiaLaboratory of Evolution of the Sense Organs, Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, 194223 St. Petersburg, RussiaThe avian magnetic compass allows orientation during migration and is shown to function properly under short-wavelength but not long-wavelength visible light. Therefore, the magnetoreceptive system is assumed to be light- and wavelength-dependent and localized in the retina of the eye. Putative candidates for the role of primary magnetosensory molecules are the cryptochromes that are known to be expressed in the avian retina and must be able to interact with phototransduction proteins. Previously, we reported that in migratory birds change in magnetic field direction induces significant effects on electroretinogram amplitude in response to blue flashes, and such an effect was observed only in the nasal quadrant of the retina. Here, we report new electroretinographic, microscopic and microspectrophotometric data on European robins, confirming the magnetosensitivity of the retinal nasal quadrant after applying the background illumination. We hypothesized that magnetoreceptive distinction of this region may be related to its morphology and analyzed the retinal distribution and optical properties of oil droplets, the filtering structures within cones. We found that the nasal quadrant contains double cones with the most intensely colorized oil droplets compared to the rest of the retina, which may be related to its magnetosensory function.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/19/3056retinabirdsmagnetic compassmagnetoreceptionconesoil droplets |
| spellingShingle | Alexander Yu. Rotov Arsenii A. Goriachenkov Roman V. Cherbunin Michael L. Firsov Nikita Chernetsov Luba A. Astakhova Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity Cells retina birds magnetic compass magnetoreception cones oil droplets |
| title | Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity |
| title_full | Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity |
| title_fullStr | Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity |
| title_short | Magnetoreceptory Function of European Robin Retina: Electrophysiological and Morphological Non-Homogeneity |
| title_sort | magnetoreceptory function of european robin retina electrophysiological and morphological non homogeneity |
| topic | retina birds magnetic compass magnetoreception cones oil droplets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/19/3056 |
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