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Vibratome Sectioning Mouse Retina to Prepare Photoreceptor Cultures

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Retinal development and function in a 'blind' mole.

F David Carmona¹, Martin Glösmann, Jingxing Ou

¹School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK. dcarmona@ugr.es

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|December 17, 2009

Summary

Despite permanently closed eyes, the Iberian mole retains functional retinal cells and a photoavoidance response. This suggests moles are unlikely to completely lose their eyes on an evolutionary timescale.

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Published on: March 8, 2015

Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Evolutionary biology
Neuroscience

Background:

Fossorial mammals, like the Iberian mole (Talpa occidentalis), are adapted to dark environments, potentially leading to retinal reduction.
Previous research has not explored the molecular basis of retinal development in fossorial mammals.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the molecular basis of retinal development and function in the Iberian mole.
To determine if the Iberian mole's visual system shows signs of evolutionary reduction despite permanently closed eyes.

Main Methods:

Studied prenatal retinal development and cell specification in Talpa occidentalis.
Analyzed retinal cell ultrastructure (rods, cones) and optic nerve projections using DiI staining.
Assessed visual function through photoavoidance response experiments in a Y-maze.

Main Results:

Prenatal retinal development was largely normal, with all cell types specified.
Postnatal development showed defects linked to lens abnormalities, but retinal cells (rods, cones) were typical of diurnal mammals.
Moles exhibited a photoavoidance response and had an over-representation of melanopsin-positive retinal ganglion cells.

Conclusions:

The molecular pathways for retinal development in Iberian moles maintain the adaptive functions of rod/cone vision and photoperiodicity.
Despite adaptations to dark environments and permanently closed eyes, there is no evidence for complete eye loss in the evolutionary future of this species.