title: Microspectrophotometric and immunocytochemical identification of ultraviolet photoreceptors in geckos.
abstract: Retinas of the nocturnal geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus, Hemidactylus garnotii, and Teratoscincus scincus, were studied with microspectrophotometry and immunocytochemistry against various visual pigment epitopes to reveal UV-sensitive photoreceptors. From 6-20% of the thinner members of type C double photoreceptors, earlier believed to be blue-sensitive, were found to contain a UV-absorbing visual pigment with lambda max at 363-366 nm. The pigment had bleaching and dichroic properties typical of other photoreceptor cell types of the retina. Presumptive UV-sensitive cells in retinal sections were "negatively" labeled as they did not react with either the cone-specific monoclonal antibody COS-1 or with the anti-rhodopsin polyclonal serum AO, which together labeled all of the remaining photoreceptor types (green-sensitive A singles, B doubles, and thicker members of C doubles, as well as the blue-sensitive majority of thinner members of C doubles). UV cells were moderately stained with the mAb K42-41 produced against the 5-6 loop of bovine rhodopsin, which also moderately labeled blue-sensitive cells. mAb OS-2 strongly stained all outer segments, including the UV-sensitive ones. Similarities between gecko UV visual pigments, and UV visual pigments of other vertebrates, as well as possible functional significance of these cells are discussed.
authors: Department and Section of Physiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors: E R
authors: ER
authors: Loew
authors: V I
authors: VI
authors: Govardovskii
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Röhlich
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Szél
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism*; D008832:Microchemistry; D015591:Microspectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000032:analysis; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments