Summary
The retina of Pecten maximus is divided into two light sensitive layers forming the distal and proximal retinae. The cells from these layers have different electrophysiological responses, the distal cells giving primary “off” responses, and the proximal cells giving “on” responses. The receptor surfaces of the distal retinal cells are formed from lamellae produced by the outer membranes of flattened cilia. These cilia have a basal body, basal foot, no root system and a 9 + 0 internal filament content. Each cell gives rise to an axon from its distal side, and this process goes up to the basement membrane, which is present below the cellular lens, passes along beneath it, and joins the distal optic nerve. The receptor part of the proximal retinal cells is formed from a vast array of microvilli. Each of these cells also bears one or two cilia with a probable 9 + 0 internal filament complement and no roots. The proximal cells give rise to axons, forming the proximal optic nerve. Below the proximal retina is a reflecting layer, the argentea, and below this is a pigment cell layer.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnold, J. M.: On the occurrence of microtubules in the developing lens of the squid Loligo pealii. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 14, 534–539 (1966).
Barber, V. C., and M. Land: The physical properties of a biological reflector: the argentea of the eye of Pecten. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 185, 1–2 (1966a).
- - Eye of the cockle, Cardium edule: anatomical and physiological observations. In Preparation (1966b).
Barnes, B. G.: Ciliated secretory cells in the pars-distalis of the mouse hypophysis. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 5, 453–467 (1961).
Buddenbrock, W. von, u. I. Moller-Racke: Über den Lichtsinn von Pecten. Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli 24, 217–245 (1953).
Clark, A. W.: Fine structure of two invertebrate photoreceptor cells. J. Cell Biol. 19, 14 A (1963).
Cronly-Dillon, J. R.: Spectral sensisivity of the scallop Pecten maximus. Science 151, 345–346 (1966).
Dahl, H. A.: Fine structure of cilia in rat cerebral cortex. Z. Zellforsch. 60, 369–386 (1963).
Dakin, W. J.: The eye of pecten. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 55, 49–112 (1910).
—: The eyes of Pecten, Spondylus, Amussium and allied Lamellibranchs with a short discussion on their evolution. Proc. roy. Soc. B 103, 355–365 (1928).
de Robertis, E.: Electron microscope observations on the submicroscopic organization of the retinal rods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 2, 319–330 (1956a).
—: Morphogenesis of the retinal rods. An electron microscope study. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 2, Suppl. 209–218 (1956b).
Eakin, R. M.: Lines of evolution of photoreceptors, chapt. 21 in: General physiology of cell specialization (ed. D. Mazia and A. Tyler). New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1963.
—: Development of photoreceptoral organelles in the eye of the pulmonate snail Helix aspersa. Amer. Zool. 5, 249 (1965a).
—: Evolution of photoreceptors. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 30, 363–370 (1965b).
Eakin, R. M., and J. A. Westfall: Fine structure of the retina in the reptilian third eye. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 6, 133–134 (1959).
—: Further observations on the fine structure of the parietal eye of lizards. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 8, 483–499 (1960a).
—: Photoreceptors in the amphibian frontal organ. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 47, 1084–1088 (1960b).
—: The development of photoreceptors in the stirnorgan of the treefrog Hyla regilla. Embryologia (Nagoya) 6, 84–98 (1961).
—: Fine structure of photoreceptors in the hydromedusan, Polyorchis penicellatus. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 48, 826–833 (1962).
—: Fine structure of the eye of a Chaetognath. J. Cell Biol. 21, 115–132 (1964a).
—: Further observations on the fine structure of some invertebrate eyes. Z. Zellforsch. 62, 310–332 (1964b).
Fawcett, D. W.: Cilia and flagella, chapt. 4, p. 217–297 in: The Cell, vol. II (ed. by J. Brachet and A. E. Mirsky). New York and London: Academic Press 1961.
Glauert, A. M., and R. H. Glauert: Araldite as an embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 191–194 (1958).
Gray, E. G.: Axosomatic and axodendritic synapses of the cerebral cortex: an electron microscope study. J. Anat. (Lond.) 93, 420–433 (1959).
Graziadei, P.: Electron microscopy of some primary receptors in the sucker of Octopus vulgaris. Z. Zellforsch. 64, 510–522 (1964).
Harnack, M., von: Über den Feinbau des Nervensystems des Seesternes (Asterias rubens. L.) III. Mitteilung. Die Struktur der Augenpolster. Z. Zellforsch. 60, 432–451 (1963).
Hartline, H. K.: The discharge of impulses in the optic nerve of Pecten in response to illumination of the eye. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 11, 465–478 (1938).
Horridge, G. A.: Presumed photoreceptor cilia in ctenophores. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 105, 311–317 (1964).
Krasne, F. B., and P. A. Lawrence: Structure of the photoreceptors of Branchiomma vesiculosum. J. Cell. Sci. 1, 239–248 (1966).
Land, M.: The eye of the scallop; a concave reflector. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 175, 9–10 P (1964).
—: Image formation by a concave reflector in the eye of the scallop Pecten maximus. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 179, 138–153 (1965).
—: Activity in the optic nerve of Pecten maximus in response to changes in light intensity and to pattern movement in the optical environment. J. exp. Biol. 45, 83–99 (1966).
Lawrence, P. A., and F. B. Krasne: Annelid ciliary photoreceptors. Science 148, 965–966 (1965).
Luft, J. H.: Permanganate — a new fixative for electron microscopy. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 2, 799–801 (1956).
Melamed, J., and O. Trujillo-Cénoz: The fine structure of the visual system of Lycosa (Araneae: Lycosidae). Part. I. Retina and optic nerve. Z. Zellforsch. 74, 12–31 (1966).
Miller, W. H.: Derivatives of cilia in the distal sense cells of the retina of Pecten. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 227–228 (1958).
—: Visual photoreceptor structures. In: The cell (ed. J. Brachet and A. E. Mirsky), part IV, p. 325–364. London: Academic Press 1960.
Millonig, G.: Advantages of a phosphate buffer for OsO4 solutions in fixation. J. appl. Phys. 32, 1637 (1961).
Mollenhauer, H. H.: Permanganate fixation of plant cells. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 6, 431–436 (1959).
Moody, M. F., and J. R. Parriss: The discrimination of polarized light by Octopus: a behavioural and morphological study. Z. vergl. Physiol. 44, 268–291 (1961).
—, and J. D. Robertson: The fine structure of some retinal photoreceptors. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 7, 87–92 (1960).
Patten, W.: Eyes of molluscs and arthropods. Mitth. Zool. Staz. Napoli 6, 542–756 (1886).
Revel, J. P., L. Napolitano, and D. W. Fawcett- Identification of glycogen in electron micrographs of thin tissue sections. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 8, 575–589 (1960).
Reynolds, F. S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963).
Röhlich, P., u. J. L. Török: Die Feinstruktur des Auges der Weinbergschnecke (Helix pomatia, L.). Z. Zellforsch. 60, 348–368 (1963).
Ruck, P.: Electrophysiology of the insect dorsal ocellus. J. gen. Physiol. 44, 605–657 (1961).
Schwalbach, G., K. G. Lickfeld, and M. Hahn: Der mikromorphologische Aufbau des Linsenauges der Weinbergschnecke (Helix pomatia, L.). Protoplasma (Wien) 56, 242–273 (1963).
Sjöstrand, F. S.: The ultrastructure of the inner segments of the retinal rods of the guinea pig eye as revealed by electron microscopy. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 42, 45–70 (1953).
Tokuyasu, K., and E. Yamada: The fine structure of the retina studied with the electron microscope IV. Morphogenesis of outer segments of retinal rods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 6, 225–230 (1959).
Tonosaki, A.: The fine structure of the retinal plexus in Octopus vulgaris. Z. Zellforsch. 67, 521–532 (1965).
Wolken, J. J.: Retinal structure. Mollusc cephalopods, Octopus, Sepia. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 835–838 (1958).
Yamamoto, T., K. Tasaki, Y. Sugawara, and A. Tonosaki: The fine structure of the octopus retina. J. Cell. Biol., 25, 345–359 (1965).
Zonana, H. V.: Fine structure of squid retina. Bull. Johns Hopk. Hosp. 109, 185–205 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We would like to acknowledge the advice and encouragement of Professor A. F. Huxley, Professor J. Z. Young and Dr. E. G. Gray. — We would like to thank Mrs. J. I. Astafiev for drawing Fig. 1, Mr. S. Waterman for photographic help and Miss C. Martin for clerical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barber, V.C., Evans, E.M. & Land, M.F. The fine structure of the eye of the mollusc Pecten maximus . Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 76, 295–312 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339290
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339290