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1996 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Frog brain can perceive light : Identification of visual pigments and analysis of photoreceptive mechanism

Research Project

Project/Area Number 07839009
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section時限
Research Field 光生物学
Research InstitutionNara Women's University

Principal Investigator

OISHI Tadashi  Faculty of Science, Nara Women's University, Professor, 理学部, 教授 (30112098)

Project Period (FY) 1995 – 1996
KeywordsVisual pigment / Brain / Pireal / Hypothalamus / frog / Immunohirtochemistry / Photoreceptor gene
Research Abstract

Antiserum agaisnt toad rhodopsin (BufoRh-As) was prepared and immunohistochemical studies were performed on the localization of visual pigments in the brain of four species of anuran amphibians (Rana nigromaculata, Rana catesbeiana, Bufo bufo japonicus, Xenopus laevis). In all four species, BufoRh-As recognized the outersegments of rods in the retina. The outersegments of pinealocytes in the pineal of Rana nigromaculata was also recognized by BufoRh-As. The hypothalamus (preoptic nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus) was stained in Rana catesbeiana and Bufo bufo japonicus, but not in Xenopus laevis. The results obtained were very similar to those obtained by use of antiserum agaisnt bovine rhodopsin and suggest that rhodopsin-like phto-pigments exist in the pineal and deep brain of frogs. Visual pigment genes were cloned from PCR products of the toad hypothalamus cDNA library. The amino acid sequence of this toad deep brain photoreceptor (toad DBP) indicated 76%, 49% and 46% homology to chick pinopsin, chicken rhodopsin and frog rhodopsin, respectively. It belongs to the pinopsin group which branches from the group L in the phylogenetic tree of visual pigments.
In Xenopus laevis, we studied circadian oscillator system and extra-retinal photoreception for the entrainment of the rhythm. Intact animals exhibited nocturnal activity and freerunning rhythms under constant darkness and constant light. Blinded animals were also entrained to light-dark cycles indicating involvement of extraretinal photoreceptors. The period of freerunning rhythms was significantly shorter in blinded animals than inact animals. The electric lesion of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) completely abolished the circadian rhythms in animals whose SCN was destroyed more than 70%. The results obtained suggest that the SCN is important for generation of the circadian rhythm and the cyc is also involved in the circadian system by changing freerunning periods.

  • Research Products

    (10 results)

All Other

All Publications (10 results)

  • [Publications] M. Naruse and T. Oishi: "Annual and daily activity rhythms of loaches in an irrigation creeks and ditches around paddy fields." Environment. Biol. Fishes. 47. 93-99 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Y. Ikebe and T. Oishi: "Correlation between environmental parameters and behavior during high tides in Periophthalmus modestus." J. Fish Biol.49. 139-147 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] T. Oishi, Y. Mohri, T. Kaneko, M. Sasaki, A. Hattori, Y. Obara and A. Masuda,: "Retinal melatonin is not involved in corneal mitotic rhythms in the Japanese quail: Effects of formoguanamine hydrochloride and eye-lid suture." J. Pineal Res.21. 149-154 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Ikebe, Y., and Oishi, T.: "Relationships between environmental factors and diel and annual changes of the behaviors during low tides in Periophtalmes modestus." Zool. Sci.14. 49-55 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Y. Harada, M. Goto, S. Ebihara, H. Fujisawa. K. Kegasawa and T. Oishi.: "Circadian locomotor activity rhythms in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis: The role of the eye and the hypothalamus." Biol. Rhythm Res.(in press). (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] M.Naruse and T.Oishi: "Annual and daily activity rhythms of loaches in an irrigation creeks and ditches around paddy fields." Environment. Biol.Fishes. 47. 93-99 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Y.Ikebe and T.Oishi: "Correlation between environmental parameters and behavior during high tides in Periophthalmus modestus." J.Fish Biol.49. 139-147 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] T.Oishi, Y.Mohri, T.Kaneko, M.Sasaki, A.Hattori, Y.Obara and A.Masuda: "Retinal melatonin is not involved in corneal mitotic rhythms in the Japanese quail : Effects of formoguanamine hydrochloride and eye-lid suture." J.Pineal Res.21. 149-154 (1996)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Ikebe, Y., and Oishi, T.: "Relationships between environmental factors and diel and annual changes of the behaviors during low tides in Periophthalmus modestus." Zool.Sci.14. 49-55 (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Y.Harada, M.Goto, S.Ebihara, H.Fujisawa, K.Kegasawa and T.Oishi.: "Circadian locomotor activity rhythms in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis : The role of the eye and the hypothalamus." Biol.Rhythm Res.(in press). (1997)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 1999-03-09  

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