Journal article
Visual opsin expression and morphological characterization of retinal photoreceptors in the pouched lamprey ( Geotria australis , Gray)
Journal of Comparative Neurology, Vol.529(9), pp.2265-2282
2021
Abstract
Lampreys are extant members of the agnathan (jawless) vertebrates that diverged ~500 million years ago, during a critical stage of vertebrate evolution when image‐forming eyes first emerged. Among lamprey species assessed thus far, the retina of the southern hemisphere pouched lamprey, Geotria australis, is unique, in that it possesses morphologically distinct photoreceptors and expresses five visual photopigments. This study focused on determining the number of different photoreceptors present in the retina of G. australis and whether each cell type expresses a single opsin class. Five photoreceptor subtypes were identified based on ultrastructure and differential expression of one of each of the five different visual opsin classes (lws, sws1, sws2, rh1, and rh2) known to be expressed in the retina. This suggests, therefore, that the retina of G. australis possesses five spectrally and morphologically distinct photoreceptors, with the potential for complex color vision. Each photoreceptor subtype was shown to have a specific spatial distribution in the retina, which is potentially associated with changes in spectral radiance across different lines of sight. These results suggest that there have been strong selection pressures for G. australis to maintain broad spectral sensitivity for the brightly lit surface waters that this species inhabits during its marine phase. These findings provide important insights into the functional anatomy of the early vertebrate retina and the selection pressures that may have led to the evolution of complex color vision.
Details
- Title
- Visual opsin expression and morphological characterization of retinal photoreceptors in the pouched lamprey ( Geotria australis , Gray)
- Authors/Creators
- R.E. Warrington (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaW.I.L. Davies (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaJ.M. Hemmi (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaN.S. Hart (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaI.C. Potter (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS.P. Collin (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaD.M. Hunt (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Journal of Comparative Neurology, Vol.529(9), pp.2265-2282
- Publisher
- Wiley-Liss Inc
- Identifiers
- 991005541506207891
- Copyright
- © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.36 Ophthalmology
- 1.36.212 Genetic Retinopathies
- Web Of Science research areas
- Neurosciences
- Zoology
- ESI research areas
- Neuroscience & Behavior