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Opsin-immunoreactive outer segments of photoreceptors in the eye and in the lumen of the optic nerve of the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa

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Summary

Opsin-immunoreactive sites in the eye and optic nerve of the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa, were studied by use of light-microscopic pre- and postembedding peroxidase-antiperoxidase or avidin-biotin-peroxidase techniques, and the immuno-electron-microscopic protein A-gold method. At the light-microscopic level, a strong opsin immuno-reaction was obtained on the outer segments of the photoreceptor cells with sheep and rat antibodies against bovine (rhod)opsin. These outer segments were located in the marginal photoreceptor space and in follicles of the retina, as well as in the tubular lumen of the optic nerve. Ultrastructurally, two classes of outer segments can be distinguished; most of them exhibited a strong antiopsin reaction, while certain elements lacked immunoreactivity with the antisera employed. The protein A-gold particles marked opsin-immunoreactive sites on the photoreceptor membranes. The presence of opsin-immunoreactive material in the retina and optic nerve of the hagfish strengthens the view that this primitive eye lacking a cornea, lens and vitreous body is engaged in light perception. The morphological similarity between the eye and pineal tissue is discussed in connection with the absence of a pineal organ in this species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cytobiology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany

    I. Vigh-Teichmann, B. Vigh, R. Olsson & Th. van Veen

  2. Second Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary

    I. Vigh-Teichmann, B. Vigh, R. Olsson & Th. van Veen

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden

    I. Vigh-Teichmann, B. Vigh, R. Olsson & Th. van Veen

  4. Department of Zoology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

    I. Vigh-Teichmann, B. Vigh, R. Olsson & Th. van Veen

Authors
  1. I. Vigh-Teichmann
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  2. B. Vigh
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  3. R. Olsson
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  4. Th. van Veen
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by grants from the Swedish Natural Sciences Research Council to R.O. (No. B-BU 2124), and the Royal Physiographic Society of Lund and the Swedish Natural Sciences Research Council to Th. v.V. (No. 4644-105)

On leave of absence from the 2nd Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis OTE, Budapest, Hungary

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Vigh-Teichmann, I., Vigh, B., Olsson, R. et al. Opsin-immunoreactive outer segments of photoreceptors in the eye and in the lumen of the optic nerve of the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa . Cell Tissue Res. 238, 515–522 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219867

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219867

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