scholarly journals In the four-eyed fish ( Anableps anableps ), the regions of the retina exposed to aquatic and aerial light do not express the same set of opsin genes

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Owens ◽  
Diana J. Rennison ◽  
W. Ted Allison ◽  
John S. Taylor

The four-eyed fish, Anableps anableps , has eyes with unusual morphological adaptations for simultaneous vision above and below water. The retina, for example, is divided such that one region receives light from the aerial field and the other from the aquatic field. To understand better the adaptive value of this partitioned retina, we characterized photoreceptor distribution using in situ hybridization. Cones expressing sws1 , sws2b and rh2-2 (i.e. UV, and short wavelength-sensitive) opsins were found throughout the retina, whereas cones expressing rh2-1 (middle wavelength-sensitive) were largely limited to the ventral retina and those expressing lws (long wavelength-sensitive) opsins were only expressed in the dorsal retina. We next asked when this pattern evolved relative to the ‘four-eyed’ morphology. We characterized opsin expression in Jenynsia onca , a member of the sister genus to Anableps with typical teleost eye morphology. In J. onca , sws1 , sws2b , rh2-2 and rh2-1 opsins were expressed throughout the retina; while lws opsins were not expressed in the ventral retina. Thus, the change that coincides with the evolution of unusual anablepid eye morphology is the loss of rh2-1 expression in the dorsal retina, probably to accommodate increased lws opsin expression. The retinal area that samples aerial light appears not to have changed with respect to photoreceptor transcription.

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTIANA L. CHENG ◽  
IÑIGO NOVALES FLAMARIQUE

The retina of salmonid fishes has two types of cone photoreceptors: single and double cones. At the nuclear level, these cones are distributed in a square mosaic such that the double cones form the sides of the square and the single cones occupy positions at the centre and at the corners of the square. Double cones consist of two members, one having visual pigment protein maximally sensitive to green light (RH2 opsin), the other maximally sensitive to red light (LWS opsin). Single cones can have opsins maximally sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) or blue light (SWS1 and SWS2 opsins, respectively). In Pacific salmonids, all single cones express UV opsin at hatching. Around the time of yolk sac absorption, single cones start switching opsin expression from UV to blue, in an event that proceeds from the ventral to the dorsal retina. This transformation is accompanied by a loss of single corner cones such that the large juvenile shows corner cones and UV opsin expression in the dorsal retina only. Previous research has shown that adult Pacific salmon have corner cones over large areas of retina suggesting that these cones may be regenerated and that they may express UV opsin. Here we used in-situ hybridization with cRNA probes and RT-PCR to show that: (1) all single cones in non-growth zone areas of the retina express blue opsin and (2) double cone opsin expression alternates around the square mosaic unit. Our results indicate that single cone driven UV sensitivity in adult salmon must emanate from stimulation of growth zone areas.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanwei Meng ◽  
Yahui Zhao ◽  
John H. Postlethwait ◽  
Chunguang Zhang

Abstract Eye degeneration is a common troglomorphic character of cave-dwelling organisms. Comparing the morphology and molecular biology of cave species and their close surface relatives is a powerful tool for studying regressive eye evolution and other adaptive phenotypes. We compared two co-occurring and closely-related species of the fish genus Sinocyclocheilus, which is endemic to China and includes both surfaceand cave-dwelling species. Sinocyclocheilus tileihornes, a cave species, had smaller eyes than Sinocyclocheilus angustiporus, a surface species. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the cavefish had shorter cones and more disorderly rods than did the surface-dwelling species. Using quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization, we found that rhodopsin and a long-wavelength sensitive opsin had significantly lower expression levels in the cavefish. Furthermore, one of two short-wavelength-sensitive opsins was expressed at significantly higher levels in the cavefish. Changes in the expression of opsin genes may have played a role in the degeneration of cavefish eyes.


1993 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1065-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara I. Evans ◽  
Ferenc I. Hárosi ◽  
Russell D. Fernald

AbstractThe habitat occupied by larval winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) differs considerably in light regime from that of the adult. To understand how the visual system has adapted to such changes, photoreceptor spectral absorbance was measured microspectrophotometrically in premetamorphic and postmetamorphic specimens of winter flounder. Before metamorphosis, larval flounder retinas contain only one kind of photoreceptor which is morphologically cone-like with peak absorbance at 519 nm. After metamorphosis, the adult retina has three types of photoreceptors: single cones, double cones, and rods. The visual pigment in single cones has a peak absorbance at λmax = 457 nm, the double cones at λmax = 531 and 547 nm, and the rod photoreceptors at λmax = 506 nm. Double cones were morphologically identical, but the two members contained either different (531/547 nm) or identical pigments (531/531 nm). The latter type were found only in the dorsal retina. The measured spectral half-bandwidths (HBW) were typical of visual pigments with chromophores derived from vitamin A1 with the possible exception of the long-wavelength absorbing pigment in double cones which appeared slightly broader. Because the premetamorphic pigment absorbance has a different λmax than those of the postmetamorphic pigments, different opsin genes must be expressed before and after metamorphosis.


Author(s):  
J. I. Bennetch

In a recent study of the superplastic forming (SPF) behavior of certain Al-Li-X alloys, the relative misorientation between adjacent (sub)grains proved to be an important parameter. It is well established that the most accurate way to determine misorientation across boundaries is by Kikuchi line analysis. However, the SPF study required the characterization of a large number of (sub)grains in each sample to be statistically meaningful, a very time-consuming task even for comparatively rapid Kikuchi analytical techniques.In order to circumvent this problem, an alternate, even more rapid in-situ Kikuchi technique was devised, eliminating the need for the developing of negatives and any subsequent measurements on photographic plates. All that is required is a double tilt low backlash goniometer capable of tilting ± 45° in one axis and ± 30° in the other axis. The procedure is as follows. While viewing the microscope screen, one merely tilts the specimen until a standard recognizable reference Kikuchi pattern is centered, making sure, at the same time, that the focused electron beam remains on the (sub)grain in question.


2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 591-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virpi V. Smith ◽  
Amanda J. Williams ◽  
Vas Novelli ◽  
Marian Malone

We report two infants with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and rectal bleeding due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) ileitis and colitis with minimal focal mucosal ulceration but with extensive leiomyolysis of the muscularis propria. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization for CMV showed numerous viral inclusions in the myocytes of the muscularis propria and vascular endothelium/smooth muscle with only occasional inclusions present in the muscularis mucosae. Colectomy was curative in one patient; in the other the bowel was only examined at postmortem.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 171-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben A. LePage ◽  
Hermann W. Pfefferkorn

When one hears the term “ground cover,” one immediately thinks of “grasses.” This perception is so deep-seated that paleobotanists even have been overheard to proclaim that “there was no ground cover before grasses.” Today grasses are so predominant in many environments that this perception is perpetuated easily. On the other hand, it is difficult to imagine the absence or lack of ground cover prior to the mid-Tertiary. We tested the hypothesis that different forms of ground cover existed in the past against examples from the Recent and the fossil record (Table 1). The Recent data were obtained from a large number of sources including those in the ecological, horticultural, and microbiological literature. Other data were derived from our knowledge of Precambrian life, sedimentology and paleosols, and the plant fossil record, especially in situ floras and fossil “monocultures.” Some of the data are original observations, but many others are from the literature. A detailed account of these results will be presented elsewhere (Pfefferkorn and LePage, in preparation).


1977 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Galindez ◽  
M. Prud'hon ◽  
G. Reboul

SUMMARYFifty-six Merino d'Aries and 56 Romanov × Merino crossbred lactating ewes were divided into two treatment groups, one (T1) with a ewe-to-ram ratio of 48: 1 (24 Merino and 24 crossbred) and the other (T2) of 64: 1 (32 Merino and 32 crossbred).Intravaginal sponges with 40 mg FGA (Searle) were inserted in two subgroups at 8-day intervals and withdrawn after 12 and 16 days in situ, in four equal groups at 4-day intervals. A dose of 400 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) was applied at sponge withdrawal.Fertility after two oestrous cycles was equally satisfactory in both treatments, though it was lower in treatment group T2. This could be due to the significantly low (P<0·01) number of Merino ewes raddled by the T2 ram (0·33 Merino against 0·92 crossbred) suggesting preferential behaviour by the ram in this treatment.Comparisons between breeds show a slight superiority in the fertility of crossbred ewes and a highly significant superiority in prolificacy These results suggest that using the described method, 2% of rams seems more than adequate to mate with progestagen-synchronized ewes with a satisfactory fertility level. It is, however, recommended to use homogeneous groups of ewes.


2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (18) ◽  
pp. 2491-2497 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. ZHU ◽  
L. C. CHEN ◽  
R. C. YU ◽  
F. Y. LI ◽  
J. LIU ◽  
...  

In situ high pressure energy dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements on layered perovskite-like manganate Ca 3 Mn 2 O 7 under pressures up to 35 GPa have been performed by using diamond anvil cell with synchrotron radiation. The results show that the structure of layered perovskite-like manganate Ca 3 Mn 2 O 7 is unstable under pressure due to the easy compression of NaCl-type blocks. The structure of Ca 3 Mn 2 O 7 underwent two phase transitions under pressures in the range of 0~35 GPa. One was at about 1.3 GPa with the crystal structure changing from tetragonal to orthorhombic. The other was at about 9.5 GPa with the crystal structure changing from orthorhombic back to another tetragonal.


2003 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin E. Collis ◽  
Dieter Wege

Addition of 2-diazopropane to 1,4-naphthoquinone at low temperature, followed by in situ enolization and acetylation or silylation gave 3,3-dimethyl-1H-benz[f]indazol-4,9-diyl diacetate and 3,3-dimethyl-9-(t-butyl-dimethylsilyloxy)-1H-benz[f]indazol-4-ol, respectively. Functional group manipulation of the latter compound provided a number of other 4,9-disubstituted 3,3-dimethyl-3H-benz[f]indazoles. Irradiation of the diacetate led to clean extrusion of nitrogen to give the naphtho[b]cycloproparene and an alkene. Attempts to elaborate the cycloproparene into the derived cyclopropanaphthoquinone were unsuccessful. Of the other 4,9-disubstituted 3,3-dimethyl-3H-benz[f]indazoles examined, only the compound possessing an acetoxy group at C9 was photoactive, and afforded the expected cycloproparene and alkene. Compounds bearing a hydroxy or alkoxy group at C9 were photochemically inert.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 2150-2153 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Tsuneda ◽  
S. Murakami

Asci, ascospores, and arthroconidia of Dipodascus aggregatus were examined by electron microscopy. Freeze-drying of mature asci caused rupture of the ascal walls and made it possible to observe capsulated ascospores in situ. Two types of septa occurred: (i) one having a remarkably thickened cross wall which protruded to form a circumferential ridge on the hyphae, and (ii) the other without such a bulging ridge. Schizolysis of these septa resulted in the formation of morphologically distinct arthroconidia. The scizolytic process of the ridged septa was demonstrated in detail. There was no evidence to support that the plasmadesmal canals in the septa function as disjunctive pegs in the process of arthroconidial separation.


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