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Dopamine induces optical changes in the cichlid fish lens
J Marcus Schartau1, Ronald H H Kröger, Bodil Sjögreen
1Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. marcus.schartau@cob.lu.se
Plos One
|May 11, 2010
Summary
Cichlid fish lenses change optical properties at dawn and dusk. Dopamine, acting on D1 receptors, influences these changes, suggesting its role in light adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- The crystalline lens of cichlid fish (Aequidens pulcher) adapts to light changes.
- This adaptation involves changes in refractive power, particularly in the lens cortex, during dawn and dusk.
- These optical shifts are crucial for matching lens function to retinal requirements under varying light.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rapid, in vitro changes in fish lens optical properties.
- To determine the role of dopamine in mediating these light-adaptive optical shifts.
- To identify specific dopamine receptor subtypes involved in the lens's optical modulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a short-term in vitro lens culturing system for Aequidens pulcher.
- Performed optical measurements to quantify changes in lens refractive power.
- Administered dopamine and specific agonists/antagonists (SKF-38393, quinpirole, SCH 23390) to assess their effects.
Main Results:
- Confirmed that lens optical properties can change within hours in vitro.
- Dopamine induced a dose-dependent decrease in refractive power in the lens cortex.
- D1-agonist SKF-38393 mimicked dopamine's effect, while D2-agonist quinpirole had no impact.
- The D1-antagonist SCH 23390 blocked dopamine's effect on refractive power.
Conclusions:
- Dopamine appears to be a key signaling substance in the light/dark adaptive optical changes of the cichlid lens.
- The observed effects are mediated through D1 dopamine receptors.
- While dopamine is implicated, other signaling pathways may also contribute to this adaptive process.
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