title: Cones in the retina of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus: an immunocytochemical and electrophysiological study.
abstract: Immunocytochemistry revealed in the retina of the Mongolian gerbil three immunologically distinct photoreceptor cell types. Rods comprising about 87% of the total receptor population were selectively recognized by an antirhodopsin serum (AO). The most abundant cone type (11-13% of photoreceptors) was labeled by the monoclonal antibody COS-1, specific in mammals to the middle-to-long-wave sensitive cone visual pigments. A minor cone population (2.5-5% of the cones) reacted with the monoclonal antibody OS-2, shown earlier to bind to the blue cones in mammalian species. Color substitution experiments revealed on the ERG level a color discrimination capability which must be attributed to the cooperative activity of green-sensitive (COS-1 positive) and blue-sensitive (OS-2 positive) cones. We conclude that the Mongolian gerbil has a well developed cone system, and that it may possess dichromatic green-blue color vision.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Leningrad, U.S.S.R.
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Govardovskii
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Röhlich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szél
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Khokhlova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments