Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)

Abstract Background The visual system of desert rodents demonstrates a rather high degree of development and specific features associated with adaptation to arid environment. The aim of this study is to carry out a descriptive investigation into the most relevant features of the sand rat eye. Result...

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Main Authors: Ouanassa Saadi-Brenkia, Nadia Hanniche, Saida Lounis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2018-11-01
Series:Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41936-018-0056-0
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author Ouanassa Saadi-Brenkia
Nadia Hanniche
Saida Lounis
author_facet Ouanassa Saadi-Brenkia
Nadia Hanniche
Saida Lounis
author_sort Ouanassa Saadi-Brenkia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The visual system of desert rodents demonstrates a rather high degree of development and specific features associated with adaptation to arid environment. The aim of this study is to carry out a descriptive investigation into the most relevant features of the sand rat eye. Results Light microscopic observations revealed that the eye of Psammomys obesus diurnal species, appears similar to that of others rodent with characteristic mammalian organization. The eye was formed by the three distinct layers typical in vertebrates: fibrous tunic (sclera and cornea); vascular tunic (Iris, Ciliary body, Choroid); nervous tunic (retina). Three chambers of fluid fundamentals in maintaining the eyeball’s normal size and shape: Anterior chamber (between cornea and iris), Posterior chamber (between iris, zonule fibers and lens) and the Vitreous chamber (between the lens and the retina) The first two chambers are filled with aqueous humor whereas the vitreous chamber is filled with a more viscous fluid, the vitreous humor. These fluids are made up of 99.9% water. However, the main features, related to life style and arid environment, are the egg-shaped lens, the heavy pigmentation of the middle layer and an extensive folding of ciliary processes, thus developing a large surface area, for ultrafiltration and active fluid transport, this being the actual site of aqueous production. The ciliary muscle is poorly developed and the dilator pupillae is not apparent. Conclusions The ocular globe of sand rat demonstrates a high degree of development and several specific features associated with adaptation to life style and arid environment.
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spelling doaj.art-9ecc444f38c64fe9bb2b55750d0ddde32022-12-21T19:56:48ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Basic and Applied Zoology2090-990X2018-11-017911610.1186/s41936-018-0056-0Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)Ouanassa Saadi-Brenkia0Nadia Hanniche1Saida Lounis2Department of Biology, University of Boumerdes Faculty of SciencesLaboratory of Biology and Physiology of Organisms, Neurobiology, University of Sciences and Technology Houari BoumedieneDepartment of Biology, University of Boumerdes Faculty of SciencesAbstract Background The visual system of desert rodents demonstrates a rather high degree of development and specific features associated with adaptation to arid environment. The aim of this study is to carry out a descriptive investigation into the most relevant features of the sand rat eye. Results Light microscopic observations revealed that the eye of Psammomys obesus diurnal species, appears similar to that of others rodent with characteristic mammalian organization. The eye was formed by the three distinct layers typical in vertebrates: fibrous tunic (sclera and cornea); vascular tunic (Iris, Ciliary body, Choroid); nervous tunic (retina). Three chambers of fluid fundamentals in maintaining the eyeball’s normal size and shape: Anterior chamber (between cornea and iris), Posterior chamber (between iris, zonule fibers and lens) and the Vitreous chamber (between the lens and the retina) The first two chambers are filled with aqueous humor whereas the vitreous chamber is filled with a more viscous fluid, the vitreous humor. These fluids are made up of 99.9% water. However, the main features, related to life style and arid environment, are the egg-shaped lens, the heavy pigmentation of the middle layer and an extensive folding of ciliary processes, thus developing a large surface area, for ultrafiltration and active fluid transport, this being the actual site of aqueous production. The ciliary muscle is poorly developed and the dilator pupillae is not apparent. Conclusions The ocular globe of sand rat demonstrates a high degree of development and several specific features associated with adaptation to life style and arid environment.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41936-018-0056-0DesertRodentsEyeHistologyRetinaCornea
spellingShingle Ouanassa Saadi-Brenkia
Nadia Hanniche
Saida Lounis
Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)
Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology
Desert
Rodents
Eye
Histology
Retina
Cornea
title Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)
title_full Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)
title_fullStr Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)
title_full_unstemmed Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)
title_short Microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent Psammomys obesus (Cretzschmar, 1828)
title_sort microscopic anatomy of ocular globe in diurnal desert rodent psammomys obesus cretzschmar 1828
topic Desert
Rodents
Eye
Histology
Retina
Cornea
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41936-018-0056-0
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AT nadiahanniche microscopicanatomyofocularglobeindiurnaldesertrodentpsammomysobesuscretzschmar1828
AT saidalounis microscopicanatomyofocularglobeindiurnaldesertrodentpsammomysobesuscretzschmar1828