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Phototransduction molecules in the pigeon deep brain
1Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
The Journal of Comparative Neurology
|November 1, 2000
Summary
Pigeons possess brain photoreceptors in the lateral septum, identified by rhodopsin and transducin. These cells express genes for phototransduction, suggesting a role in regulating daily light cycles.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Photoperiodicity regulation in avian species involves brain photoreceptive areas.
- The lateral septum in pigeons is a potential site for deep encephalic photoreception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and function of photoreceptor components in the pigeon lateral septum.
- To explore the molecular mechanisms of phototransduction in avian brain regions.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry to detect rhodopsin and transducin (Gt(1)alpha) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contacting neurons.
- Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to analyze gene expression of phototransduction components.
Main Results:
- Rhodopsin and Gt(1)alpha immunoreactivities were found colocalized in CSF-contacting neurons of the pigeon lateral septum.
- Specific gene expression for cGMP-phosphodiesterase beta-subunit and cone-type cGMP-gated cation channel alpha-subunit was detected in this region.
Conclusions:
- The pigeon lateral septum contains molecular components characteristic of rod and cone photoreceptors.
- These findings suggest a role for these photoreceptors in the deep encephalic phototransduction cascade, potentially regulating photoperiodicity.
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