A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
A comparative study was made on one Mysticete (the fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus) and one Odontocete species (the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba) by measuring several morphological characteristics seen in cross sections of the optic nerve. We found that the two cetacean nerves share a num...
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/11564/645473 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523801182155 |
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ftunivchietiiris:oai:ricerca.unich.it:11564/645473 2024-04-21T07:57:52+00:00 A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) MAZZATENTA, ANDREA Caleo, Matteo Baldaccini, Natale Emilio Maffei, Lamberto Mazzatenta, Andrea Caleo, Matteo Baldaccini, Natale Emilio Maffei, Lamberto 2001 http://hdl.handle.net/11564/645473 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523801182155 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000168643600015 volume:18 issue:2 firstpage:319 lastpage:325 numberofpages:7 journal:VISUAL NEUROSCIENCE http://hdl.handle.net/11564/645473 doi:10.1017/S0952523801182155 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-0034996032 Dolphin Fiber density Giant axon Plesiomorphic character Whale Neuroscience (all) info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2001 ftunivchietiiris https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523801182155 2024-03-25T01:36:48Z A comparative study was made on one Mysticete (the fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus) and one Odontocete species (the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba) by measuring several morphological characteristics seen in cross sections of the optic nerve. We found that the two cetacean nerves share a number of specializations that distinguish them from the optic nerve of terrestrial mammals. Fiber density is approximately two-fold lower than in land mammals. A corresponding increase in the cross-sectional area occupied by astrocytes is observed. A population of "giant" (up to 15 mum in diameter) optic axons is present in both the B. physalus and the S. coeruleoalba nerve. It is argued that these features probably reflect common adaptations to the constraints imposed by the aquatic environment. "Giant" optic axons might ensure short-latency detection of preys and other targets during navigation while the increased astroglial content might be related to the maintenance of neuronal function during periods of anaerobic metabolism under water. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale ARUd'A - Archivio Istituzionale della ricerca dell'università Chieti-Pescara (IRIS) Visual Neuroscience 18 2 319 325 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
ARUd'A - Archivio Istituzionale della ricerca dell'università Chieti-Pescara (IRIS) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivchietiiris |
language |
English |
topic |
Dolphin Fiber density Giant axon Plesiomorphic character Whale Neuroscience (all) |
spellingShingle |
Dolphin Fiber density Giant axon Plesiomorphic character Whale Neuroscience (all) MAZZATENTA, ANDREA Caleo, Matteo Baldaccini, Natale Emilio Maffei, Lamberto A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
topic_facet |
Dolphin Fiber density Giant axon Plesiomorphic character Whale Neuroscience (all) |
description |
A comparative study was made on one Mysticete (the fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus) and one Odontocete species (the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba) by measuring several morphological characteristics seen in cross sections of the optic nerve. We found that the two cetacean nerves share a number of specializations that distinguish them from the optic nerve of terrestrial mammals. Fiber density is approximately two-fold lower than in land mammals. A corresponding increase in the cross-sectional area occupied by astrocytes is observed. A population of "giant" (up to 15 mum in diameter) optic axons is present in both the B. physalus and the S. coeruleoalba nerve. It is argued that these features probably reflect common adaptations to the constraints imposed by the aquatic environment. "Giant" optic axons might ensure short-latency detection of preys and other targets during navigation while the increased astroglial content might be related to the maintenance of neuronal function during periods of anaerobic metabolism under water. |
author2 |
Mazzatenta, Andrea Caleo, Matteo Baldaccini, Natale Emilio Maffei, Lamberto |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
MAZZATENTA, ANDREA Caleo, Matteo Baldaccini, Natale Emilio Maffei, Lamberto |
author_facet |
MAZZATENTA, ANDREA Caleo, Matteo Baldaccini, Natale Emilio Maffei, Lamberto |
author_sort |
MAZZATENTA, ANDREA |
title |
A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_short |
A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_full |
A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_fullStr |
A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_full_unstemmed |
A comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_sort |
comparative morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in two cetacean species, the striped dolphin (stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whale (balaenoptera physalus) |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11564/645473 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523801182155 |
genre |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:000168643600015 volume:18 issue:2 firstpage:319 lastpage:325 numberofpages:7 journal:VISUAL NEUROSCIENCE http://hdl.handle.net/11564/645473 doi:10.1017/S0952523801182155 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-0034996032 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952523801182155 |
container_title |
Visual Neuroscience |
container_volume |
18 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
319 |
op_container_end_page |
325 |
_version_ |
1796939305124364288 |