Photoreceptors morphology and genetics of the visual pigments of Bothrops jararaca and Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes, Viperidae)

Autor(es)

Bittencourt, Guido Barbieri ^[1] ; Hauzman, Einat ^{[2, 1]} ; Oliveira Bonci, Daniela Maria ^{[2, 1]} ; Ventura, Dora Fix ^{[2, 1]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psicol, Dept Psicol Expt, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Inst Ensino & Pesquisa, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: VISION RESEARCH; v. 158, p. 72-77, MAY 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Snakes inhabit a great variety of habitats, whose spectral quality of light may vary a lot and influence specific adaptations of their visual system. In this study, we investigated the genetics of the visual opsins and the morphology of retinal photoreceptors, of two nocturnal snakes from the Viperidae family, Bothrops jararaca and Crotalus durissus terrificus, which inhabit preferentially the Atlantic Rain Forest and the Brazilian Savannah, respectively. Total RNA was extracted from homogenized retinas and converted to cDNA. The opsin genes expressed in snake retinas, LWS, RH1, and SWS1, were amplified by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and sequenced. The absorption peak (lambda(max)) of the opsins were estimated based on amino acids located at specific spectral tuning sites. Photoreceptor cell populations were analyzed using immunohistochemistry with anti-opsin antibodies. Results showed the same morphological cell populations and same opsins absorption peaks, in both viperid species: double and single cones with LWS photopigment and lambda(max) at similar to 555 nm; single cones with SWS1 photopigment and lambda(max) at similar to 360 nm; and rods with the rhodopsin RH1 photopigment and lambda(max) at similar to 500 nm. The results indicate adaptations to nocturnal habit in both species despite the differences in habitat, and the possibility of a dichromatic color vision at photopic conditions. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 14/26818-2 - Desenvolvimento e implantação de métodos de avaliação visual: aplicações clínicas e em modelos animais
• Beneficiário: Dora Selma Fix Ventura
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 14/25743-9 - Expressão de opsinas e melanopsinas em retinas de serpentes: genética molecular e imunohistoquímica
• Beneficiário: Einat Hauzman
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado