Structure and optics of the eyes of the box jellyfish Chiropsella bronzie

O'Connor, Megan; Garm, Anders; Nilsson, Dan-Eric

doi:10.1007/s00359-009-0431-x

Cited by 34 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Light microscopy and ultrastructural studies confirm the position of the nuclei in the cell bodies (Figure 6) [32], [34]. Our leo expression results are consistent with Koyanagi et al [17], but different from the results of Kozmik et al [18] who reported a different gene ( Tc-neo ) to be expressed in lens eyes with a maximal sensitivity to blue light (470 nm) in in vitro expression analysis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Ocular and Extraocular Expression of Opsins in the Rhopalium of Tripedalia cystophora (Cnidaria: Cubozoa)

et al. 2014

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A growing body of work on the neuroethology of cubozoans is based largely on the capabilities of the photoreceptive tissues, and it is important to determine the molecular basis of their light sensitivity. The cubozoans rely on 24 special purpose eyes to extract specific information from a complex visual scene to guide their behavior in the habitat. The lens eyes are the most studied photoreceptive structures, and the phototransduction in the photoreceptor cells is based on light sensitive opsin molecules. Opsins are photosensitive transmembrane proteins associated with photoreceptors in eyes, and the amino acid sequence of the opsins determines the spectral properties of the photoreceptors. Here we show that two distinct opsins (Tripedalia cystophora-lens eye expressed opsin and Tripedalia cystophora-neuropil expressed opsin, or Tc-leo and Tc-neo) are expressed in the Tripedalia cystophora rhopalium. Quantitative PCR determined the level of expression of the two opsins, and we found Tc-leo to have a higher amount of expression than Tc-neo. In situ hybridization located Tc-leo expression in the retinal photoreceptors of the lens eyes where the opsin is involved in image formation. Tc-neo is expressed in a confined part of the neuropil and is probably involved in extraocular light sensation, presumably in relation to diurnal activity.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Ocular and Extraocular Expression of Opsins in the Rhopalium of Tripedalia cystophora (Cnidaria: Cubozoa)

et al. 2014

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“…Hence, rates of visual pigment regeneration may differ between the two lens eyes. One morphological difference between the lens eyes is the presence of long-pigmented cells in the lower lens eye (O'Connor et al 2009, figure 5a). It is possible that the long-pigmented cells take part in photopigment regeneration, resulting in a proportionally larger amount of regeneration components available in the lower lens eye than in the upper lens eye.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual pigment in the lens eyes of the box jellyfish Chiropsella bronzie

et al. 2010

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Box jellyfish (Cubomedusae) possess a unique visual system comprising 24 eyes of four morphological types. Moreover, box jellyfish display several visually guided behaviours, including obstacle avoidance and lightshaft attractance. It is largely unknown what kind of visual information box jellyfish use for carrying out these behaviours. Brightness contrast is almost certainly involved, but it is also possible that box jellyfish extract colour information from their surroundings. The possible presence of colour vision in box jellyfish has previously been investigated using behavioural, electrophysiological and immunohistochemical methods. However, the results from these studies are to some degree conflicting and inconclusive. Here, we present results from an investigation into the visual system of the box jellyfish Chiropsella bronzie, using microspectrophotometry and immunohistochemistry. Our results strongly indicate that only one type of visual pigment is present in the upper and lower lens eyes with a peak absorbance of approximately 510 nm. Additionally, the visual pigment appears to undergo bleaching, similar to that of vertebrate visual pigments.

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“…Each of the four rhopalia contains two lensed, complex eyes, two pit ocelli, two slit ocelli, a statolith-like concretion, sensory epithelia, a 'central' neuropil of neuronal processes and synapses, and an outer layer of neuronal and non-neuronal somata (Berger, 1898;Laska and Hundgen, 1982;Nilsson et al, 2005;O'Connor et al, 2009). In all anatomical respects, these latter structures give the rhopalia the look of ganglia found in bilateral animals (Fig.10).…”

Section: Peripheral Integration and The Scyphozoan Swim Systemmentioning

confidence: 96%

Do jellyfish have central nervous systems?

Satterlie

2011

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Summary The traditional view of the cnidarian nervous system is of a diffuse nerve net that functions as both a conducting and an integrating system; this is considered an indicator of a primitive condition. Yet, in medusoid members, varying degrees of nerve net compression and neuronal condensation into ganglion-like structures represent more centralized integrating centers. In some jellyfish, this relegates nerve nets to motor distribution systems. The neuronal condensation follows a precept of neuronal organization of higher animals with a relatively close association with the development and elaboration of sensory structures. Nerve nets still represent an efficient system for diffuse, non-directional activation of broad, two-dimensional effector sheets, as required by the radial, non-cephalized body construction. However, in most jellyfish, an argument can be made for the presence of centralized nervous systems that interact with the more diffuse nerve nets.

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Structure and optics of the eyes of the box jellyfish Chiropsella bronzie

Cited by 34 publications

References 18 publications

Ocular and Extraocular Expression of Opsins in the Rhopalium of Tripedalia cystophora (Cnidaria: Cubozoa)

Ocular and Extraocular Expression of Opsins in the Rhopalium of Tripedalia cystophora (Cnidaria: Cubozoa)

Visual pigment in the lens eyes of the box jellyfish Chiropsella bronzie

Do jellyfish have central nervous systems?

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