Fine structure of the photosensitive iris of the toad, Bufo marinus

The iris of the toad Bufo marinus is directly photosensitive and will constrict in response to light striking only the iris. This is true even when the iris is isolated from the rest of the eye, and therefore from reflex neuronal influences initiated in the retina. This autonomous response is probably mediated by the sphincter pupillae muscle, since no specialized photoreceptors are present in the iris, nor does the sphincter exhibit any specializations likely to subserve a purely photoreceptive function. The photosensitive sphincter appears typical of smooth muscle and, like mammalian sphincters, possesses many intercellular junctions. The iris possesses a well-developed neuronal plexus with fibers projecting into the sphincter muscle layer. Nerve terminals contain small, agranular (30-70nm) and large, dense-cored (80-120nm) vesicles. No consistent postsynaptic specializations are seen on any cells of the iris, including the cells of the sphincter muscle. The anterior pigment epithelial cells of the iris appear specialized and resemble the myoepithelial dilator muscle described by Kelly and Arnold ('72) for the iris of rats.