An ultraviolet-sensitive mechanism in the reptilian parietal eye

Jenison, G. L.; Nolte, John

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(80)91232-9

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the lamprey [3] and teleost [4], [5] pineal organs, as well as the frog frontal organ [6], such wavelength discrimination through rationing between UV and visible light has been observed. The same applies to the reptilian parietal eye, which detects the ratio of UV/blue to longer-wavelength light [7]–[10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…In the latter case, the wavelength discrimination was effected by the blue-sensitive pinopsin and the green-sensitive parietopsin co-present in a single photoreceptor cell and generating antagonistic light responses [13]. Because a previous ERG study indicated that the parietal eye of green iguana ( Iguana iguana ) and the green anole ( Anolis carolinensis ) can likewise sense UV light [7], we asked whether parapinopsin is also involved in this function. This issue is also interesting from a viewpoint of evolutionary linkage between parapineal organs and parietal eyes because it was proposed that the lizard parietal eye is homologous to the parapineal organ containing parapinopsin in other lower vertebrates [14], [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Expression of UV-Sensitive Parapinopsin in the Iguana Parietal Eyes and Its Implication in UV-Sensitivity in Vertebrate Pineal-Related Organs

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The pineal-related organs of lower vertebrates have the ability to discriminate different wavelengths of light. This wavelength discrimination is achieved through antagonistic light responses to UV or blue and visible light. Previously, we demonstrated that parapinopsin underlies the UV reception in the lamprey pineal organ and identified parapinopsin genes in teleosts and frogs of which the pineal-related organs were reported to discriminate light. In this study, we report the first identification of parapinopsin in the reptile lineage and show its expression in the parietal eye of the green iguana. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that iguana parapinopsin is a UV-sensitive pigment, similar to lamprey parapinopsin. Interestingly, immunohistochemical analyses using antibodies specific to parapinopsin and parietopsin, a parietal eye green-sensitive pigment, revealed that parapinopsin and parietopsin are colocalized in the outer segments of the parietal eye photoreceptor cells in iguanas. These results strongly suggest that parapinopsin underlies the wavelength discrimination involving UV reception in the iguana parietal eye. The current findings support the idea that parapinopsin is a common photopigment underlying the UV-sensitivity in wavelength discrimination of the pineal-related organs found from lampreys to reptiles.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression of UV-Sensitive Parapinopsin in the Iguana Parietal Eyes and Its Implication in UV-Sensitivity in Vertebrate Pineal-Related Organs

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These eyes are located in a small foramen between the parietal bones and are equipped with a cornea, a lens and a retina. Cells in these parietal eyes exhibit color opponency in some species ( Lacerta sicula campestris , Dodt and Scherer, 1968; Iguana , Hamasaki, 1969; Anolis carolinensis , Jenison and Nolte, 1980) (Fig. 3d).…”

Section: Chromatic Circadian Photosensitivity In Lower Vertebratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chromatic antagonism in parietal eyes of lizards. d. Effect of monochromatic light pulses in under adaptation to white light (5 min) studied by Jenison and Nolte (1980) (modified from their Fig. 1, p. 507; Copyright © 1980 Published by Elsevier B.V., reprinted with permission).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chromatic clocks: Color opponency in non-image-forming visual function

Spitschan

Lucas

Brown

2017

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During dusk and dawn, the ambient illumination undergoes drastic changes in irradiance (or intensity) and spectrum (or color). While the former is a well-studied factor in synchronizing behavior and physiology to the earth’s 24-h rotation, color sensitivity in the regulation of circadian rhythms has not been systematically studied. Drawing on the concept of color opponency, a well-known property of image-forming vision in many vertebrates (including humans), we consider how the spectral shifts during twilight are encoded by a color-opponent sensory system for non-image-forming (NIF) visual functions, including phase shifting and melatonin suppression. We review electrophysiological evidence for color sensitivity in the pineal/parietal organs of fish, amphibians and reptiles, color coding in neurons in the circadian pacemaker in mice as well as sporadic evidence for color sensitivity in NIF visual functions in birds and mammals. Together, these studies suggest that color opponency may be an important modulator of light-driven physiological and behavioral responses.

show abstract

“…We have not yet recovered a sufficient number of these cells to determine unequivocally if there are actually two populations or if this is an artificial division of a continuum. If there are, indeed, two morphological classes, it remains to be determined if they correspond to functionally different populations predicted by spectral sensitivity measurements (DODT & SCHERER 1968, HAMASAKI 1969a, JENISON & NOLTE 1980 recording and staining experiments are needed to resolve the question of the correspondence of cell morphology and response characteristics. The terminal photoreceptor processes contact the dendrites of ganglion cells in the plexiform layer.…”

Section: General Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Neurobiology of the lacertilian parietal eye system

Engbretson

1992

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The lacertilian parietal eye is a highly organized photoreceptive organ found on the dorsal midline of the head. Developmentally, it is related to the pineal gland but structurally, it resembles the retina of the eye. In contrast to the retina, the parietal eye has a reduced number of components. The photoreceptors synapse directly onto the ganglion cells and there is no convincing evidence of interneurons between these cell types. Retrograde transport studies have revealed two populations of ganglion cells, one in the ganglion cell layer and the other a population of «displaced» ganglion cells located in the photoreceptor layer. The pars dorsolateralis of the left medial habenular nucleus is specialized to receive the projection of the parietal eye ganglion cells. A few centrifugal neurons project to the parietal eye and affect its photoresponsiveness. These centrifugal neurons are stimulated differentially by norepinephrine and serotonin.Several neurotransmitter systems are thought to exist in the parietal eye. Radiolabeled precursor studies have shown that acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid and serotonin are synthesized. Substance P has been localized in neuronal processes of the plexiform layer and in the left medial habenular nucleus. The cells that synthesize these neurotransmitters are not yet identified.Three-dimensional reconstruction from serial electron micrographs shows that the normal and displaced ganglion cells have different patterns of synaptic input. The patterns of synaptic input provide the ultrastructural substrate for the information processing performed by the parietal eye. It is known that this simple retina extracts information about the intensity and wavelength of light impinging upon it, codes the information, and then sends it to the brain. This coded information is used by the brain to coordinate the animal's physiology with fluctuations in environmental conditions.

show abstract

An ultraviolet-sensitive mechanism in the reptilian parietal eye

Cited by 19 publications

References 8 publications

Expression of UV-Sensitive Parapinopsin in the Iguana Parietal Eyes and Its Implication in UV-Sensitivity in Vertebrate Pineal-Related Organs

Expression of UV-Sensitive Parapinopsin in the Iguana Parietal Eyes and Its Implication in UV-Sensitivity in Vertebrate Pineal-Related Organs

Chromatic clocks: Color opponency in non-image-forming visual function

Neurobiology of the lacertilian parietal eye system

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About