Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus)
Abstract The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is the carnivore with the widest distribution in the world. Not much is known about the visual system of these predominantly forest‐dwelling animals. The closely related Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus ) lives in more open tundra habitats. In search for correspondi...
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crwiley:10.1002/cne.24493 2024-06-02T08:00:09+00:00 Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) Malkemper, Erich Pascal Peichl, Leo Grantová Agentura České Republiky Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cne.24493 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fcne.24493 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cne.24493 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Journal of Comparative Neurology volume 526, issue 13, page 2078-2098 ISSN 0021-9967 1096-9861 journal-article 2018 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.24493 2024-05-03T11:05:43Z Abstract The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is the carnivore with the widest distribution in the world. Not much is known about the visual system of these predominantly forest‐dwelling animals. The closely related Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus ) lives in more open tundra habitats. In search for corresponding adaptations, we examined the photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), using opsin immunohistochemistry, lucifer yellow injections and Nissl staining. Both species possess a majority of middle‐to‐longwave‐sensitive (M/L) and a minority of shortwave‐sensitive (S) cones, indicating dichromatic color vision. Area centralis peak cone densities are 22,600/mm 2 in the red fox and 44,800/mm 2 in the Arctic fox. Both have a centro‐peripheral density decrease of M/L cones, and a dorsoventrally increasing density of S cones. Rod densities and rod/cone ratios are higher in the red fox than the Arctic fox. Both species possess the carnivore‐typical alpha and beta RGCs. The RGC topography shows a centro‐peripheral density gradient with a distinct area centralis (mean peak density 7,900 RGCs/mm 2 in the red fox and 10,000 RGCs/mm 2 in the Arctic fox), a prominent visual streak of higher RGC densities in the Arctic fox, and a moderate visual streak in the red fox. Visual acuity and estimated sound localization ability were nearly identical between both species. In summary, the red fox retina shows adaptations to nocturnal activity in a forest habitat, while the Arctic fox retina is better adapted to higher light levels in the open tundra. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Fox Arctic Tundra Vulpes lagopus Wiley Online Library Arctic Journal of Comparative Neurology 526 13 2078 2098 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
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English |
description |
Abstract The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is the carnivore with the widest distribution in the world. Not much is known about the visual system of these predominantly forest‐dwelling animals. The closely related Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus ) lives in more open tundra habitats. In search for corresponding adaptations, we examined the photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), using opsin immunohistochemistry, lucifer yellow injections and Nissl staining. Both species possess a majority of middle‐to‐longwave‐sensitive (M/L) and a minority of shortwave‐sensitive (S) cones, indicating dichromatic color vision. Area centralis peak cone densities are 22,600/mm 2 in the red fox and 44,800/mm 2 in the Arctic fox. Both have a centro‐peripheral density decrease of M/L cones, and a dorsoventrally increasing density of S cones. Rod densities and rod/cone ratios are higher in the red fox than the Arctic fox. Both species possess the carnivore‐typical alpha and beta RGCs. The RGC topography shows a centro‐peripheral density gradient with a distinct area centralis (mean peak density 7,900 RGCs/mm 2 in the red fox and 10,000 RGCs/mm 2 in the Arctic fox), a prominent visual streak of higher RGC densities in the Arctic fox, and a moderate visual streak in the red fox. Visual acuity and estimated sound localization ability were nearly identical between both species. In summary, the red fox retina shows adaptations to nocturnal activity in a forest habitat, while the Arctic fox retina is better adapted to higher light levels in the open tundra. |
author2 |
Grantová Agentura České Republiky Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Malkemper, Erich Pascal Peichl, Leo |
spellingShingle |
Malkemper, Erich Pascal Peichl, Leo Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) |
author_facet |
Malkemper, Erich Pascal Peichl, Leo |
author_sort |
Malkemper, Erich Pascal |
title |
Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) |
title_short |
Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) |
title_full |
Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) |
title_fullStr |
Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) |
title_sort |
retinal photoreceptor and ganglion cell types and topographies in the red fox ( vulpes vulpes) and arctic fox ( vulpes lagopus) |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cne.24493 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fcne.24493 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cne.24493 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Fox Arctic Tundra Vulpes lagopus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Fox Arctic Tundra Vulpes lagopus |
op_source |
Journal of Comparative Neurology volume 526, issue 13, page 2078-2098 ISSN 0021-9967 1096-9861 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.24493 |
container_title |
Journal of Comparative Neurology |
container_volume |
526 |
container_issue |
13 |
container_start_page |
2078 |
op_container_end_page |
2098 |
_version_ |
1800744161950826496 |