Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

UV-sensitive input to horizontal cells in the turtle retina

J Ammermüller1, A Itzhaki, R Weiler

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Oldenburg, Germany.

The European Journal of Neuroscience
|September 29, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Ultraviolet (UV) light detection in turtles is functional, with specific yellow/blue horizontal cells receiving input from UV-sensitive cones. This research clarifies UV vision mechanisms in turtle retinas.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

An Alternative Splice Variant of Zebrafish Cx52.6 is Expressed in Retinal Horizontal Cells.

Neuroscience·2018
Same author

The practical use of surface electromyography during running: does the evidence support the hype? A narrative review.

BMJ open sport & exercise medicine·2016
Same author

Complexity of gap junctions between horizontal cells of the carp retina.

Neuroscience·2016
Same author

Covariates of alcohol consumption among career firefighters.

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2014
Same author

Thoracic outlet syndromes in sport: a practical review in the face of limited evidence--unusual pain presentation in an athlete.

British journal of sports medicine·2013
Same author

The effects of excitatory amino acids and their transporters on function and structure of the distal retina in albino rabbits.

Documenta ophthalmologica. Advances in ophthalmology·2012

Area of Science:

  • Vision science
  • Retinal physiology
  • Comparative biology

Background:

  • Ultraviolet (UV) light perception is crucial for vision in many vertebrates.
  • Behavioral studies suggest UV light plays a role in turtle vision.
  • Understanding UV light detection mechanisms in the turtle retina is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cellular mechanisms of UV light detection in the distal retina of turtles.
  • To identify the specific retinal cells and their interactions involved in processing UV light.
  • To determine the functional contribution of UV light to turtle vision.

Main Methods:

  • Intracellular recordings of photoresponses in cones and horizontal cells from Pseudemys scripta elegans and Mauremys caspica retinas.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Calculation of action spectra for these cells under various adaptation conditions.
  • Measurement of UV light transmission through optical media (cornea, lens, vitreous).

    • Main Results:

    • All three horizontal cell types (luminosity, red/green, yellow/blue) showed enhanced sensitivity in the UV spectrum in dark-adapted retinas.
    • Chromatic adaptation revealed that only yellow/blue chromaticity-type horizontal cells receive excitatory input from UV-sensitive cones (peak sensitivity ~360 nm).
    • Enhanced UV sensitivity in other horizontal cell types likely relates to beta-band absorption of visual pigments.

    Conclusions:

    • Turtle vision can functionally utilize UV light under normal conditions.
    • Yellow/blue chromaticity-type horizontal cells are key players in processing UV light via UV-sensitive cones.
    • The optical media of turtles effectively transmit UV light, supporting its role in vision.