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Abstract
Birds can use two kinds of information from the geomagnetic field for navigation: the direction of the field lines as a compass and probably magnetic intensity as a component of the navigational ‘map’. The direction of the magnetic field appears to be sensed via radical pair processes in the eyes, with the crucial radical pairs formed by cryptochrome. It is transmitted by the optic nerve to the brain, where parts of the visual system seem to process the respective information. Magnetic intensity appears to be perceived by magnetite-based receptors in the beak region; the information is transmitted by the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve to the trigeminal ganglion and the trigeminal brainstem nuclei. Yet in spite of considerable progress in recent years, many details are still unclear, among them details of the radical pair processes and their transformation into a nervous signal, the precise location of the magnetite-based receptors and the centres in the brain where magnetic information is combined with other navigational information for the navigational processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roswitha Wiltschko
- FB Biowissenschaften, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wiltschko
- FB Biowissenschaften, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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2
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Malkemper EP, Mason MJ, Kagerbauer D, Nimpf S, Keays DA. Ectopic otoconial formation in the lagena of the pigeon inner ear. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio034462. [PMID: 29997242 PMCID: PMC6124575 DOI: 10.1242/bio.034462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate inner ear contains vestibular receptors with dense crystals of calcium carbonate, the otoconia. The production and maintenance of otoconia is a delicate process, the perturbation of which can lead to severe vestibular dysfunction in humans. The details of these processes are not well understood. Here, we report the discovery of a new otoconial mass in the lagena of adult pigeons that was present in more than 70% of birds. Based on histological, tomographic and elemental analyses, we conclude that the structure likely represents an ectopically-formed otoconial assembly. Given its frequent natural occurrence, we suggest that the pigeon lagena is a valuable model system for investigating misregulated otoconial formation.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Pascal Malkemper
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Campus Vienna Biocenter 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Matthew J Mason
- University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | | | - Simon Nimpf
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Campus Vienna Biocenter 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - David A Keays
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Campus Vienna Biocenter 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
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Bonsmann A, Stoffel MH, Burkhart M, Hatt JM. Anatomical Atlas of the Quail's Ear (Coturnix coturnix). Anat Histol Embryol 2015; 45:399-404. [DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Bonsmann
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstr. 260 8057 Zurich Switzerland
| | - M. H. Stoffel
- Division of Veterinary Anatomy; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Berne; Berne Switzerland
| | | | - J.-M. Hatt
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife; Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstr. 260 8057 Zurich Switzerland
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Releases of surgically deafened homing pigeons indicate that aural cues play a significant role in their navigational system. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2015; 201:983-1001. [PMID: 26135609 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-015-1026-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Experienced homing pigeons with extirpated cochleae and lagenae were released from six sites in upstate New York and western Pennsylvania on 17 days between 1973 and 1975 by William T. Keeton and his co-workers at Cornell University. The previously unpublished data indicate that departure directions of the operated birds were significantly different from those of sham-operated control birds (314 total), indicating that aural cues play an important part in the pigeon's navigational system. Moreover, propagation modeling of infrasonic waves using meteorological data for the release days supports the possibility that control birds used infrasonic signals to determine their homeward direction. Local acoustic 'shadow' zones, therefore, could have caused initial disorientation of control birds at release sites where they were normally well oriented. Experimental birds plausibly employed an alternate 'route-reversal' strategy to return home perhaps using their ocular-based magnetic compass. We suggest, based on Keeton's results from another site of long-term disorientation, that experienced pigeons depend predominantly on infrasonic cues for initial orientation, and that surgical removal of their aural sense compelled them to switch to a secondary navigational strategy.
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O'Neill P. Magnetoreception and baroreception in birds. Dev Growth Differ 2012; 55:188-97. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2012] [Revised: 11/01/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul O'Neill
- Laboratory for Sensory Development; RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology; 2-2-3 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku; Kobe; 650-0047; Japan
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Keary N, Bischof HJ. Activation changes in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) brain areas evoked by alterations of the earth magnetic field. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38697. [PMID: 22679515 PMCID: PMC3367956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animals are able to perceive the earth magnetic field and to use it for orientation and navigation within the environment. The mechanisms underlying the perception and processing of magnetic field information within the brain have been thoroughly studied, especially in birds, but are still obscure. Three hypotheses are currently discussed, dealing with ferromagnetic particles in the beak of birds, with the same sort of particles within the lagena organs, or describing magnetically influenced radical-pair processes within retinal photopigments. Each hypothesis is related to a well-known sensory organ and claims parallel processing of magnetic field information with somatosensory, vestibular and visual input, respectively. Changes in activation within nuclei of the respective sensory systems have been shown previously. Most of these previous experiments employed intensity enhanced magnetic stimuli or lesions. We here exposed unrestrained zebra finches to either a stationary or a rotating magnetic field of the local intensity and inclination. C-Fos was used as an activity marker to examine whether the two treatments led to differences in fourteen brain areas including nuclei of the somatosensory, vestibular and visual system. An ANOVA revealed an overall effect of treatment, indicating that the magnetic field change was perceived by the birds. While the differences were too small to be significant in most areas, a significant enhancement of activation by the rotating stimulus was found in a hippocampal subdivision. Part of the hyperpallium showed a strong, nearly significant, increase. Our results are compatible with previous studies demonstrating an involvement of at least three different sensory systems in earth magnetic field perception and suggest that these systems, probably less elaborated, may also be found in nonmigrating birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Keary
- Lehrstuhl Verhaltensforschung, Universität Bielefeld, Morgenbreede 45, Bielefeld, Germany.
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Zakir M, Wu LQ, Dickman JD. Morphology and innervation of the vestibular lagena in pigeons. Neuroscience 2012; 209:97-107. [PMID: 22387112 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2011] [Revised: 02/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The morphological characteristics of the pigeon lagena were examined using histology, scanning electron microscopy, and biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) neural tracers. The lagena epithelium was observed to lie partially in a parasagittal plane, but was also U-shaped with orthogonal (lateral) directed tips. Hair cell planar polarities were oriented away from a central reversal line that ran nearly the length of the epithelium. Similar to the vertebrate utricle and saccule, three afferent classes were observed based upon their terminal innervation pattern, which include calyx, dimorph, and bouton fibers. Calyx and dimorph afferents innervated the striola region of the lagena, whereas bouton afferents innervated the extrastriola and a small region of the central striola known as the type II band. Calyx units had large calyceal terminal structures that innervated only type I hair cells. Dimorph afferents innervated both type I and II hair cells, with calyx and bouton terminals. Bouton afferents had the largest most complex innervation patterns and the greatest terminal areas contacting many hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zakir
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Wu LQ, Dickman JD. Magnetoreception in an avian brain in part mediated by inner ear lagena. Curr Biol 2011; 21:418-23. [PMID: 21353559 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.01.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2010] [Revised: 12/29/2010] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Many animals use the Earth's geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, but the neural mechanisms underlying that ability remain enigmatic. Support for at least two avian magnetoreceptors exists, including magnetically activated photochemicals in the retina and ferrimagnetic particles in the beak. The possibility of a third magnetoreceptor in the inner ear lagena organs has been suggested. The brain must process magnetic receptor information to derive constructs representing directional heading and geosurface location. Here, we used the c-Fos transcription factor, a marker for activated neurons, to discover where in the brain computations related to a specific set of magnetic field stimulations occur. We found that neural activations in discrete brain loci known to be involved in orientation, spatial memory, and navigation may constitute a major magnetoreception pathway in birds. We also found, through ablation studies, that much of the observed pathway appears to receive magnetic information from the pigeon lagena receptor organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le-Qing Wu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Khorevin VI. Cerebellar Projections of the Lagena (the Third Inner Ear Otolith Endorgan) in the Pigeon. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-010-9127-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Galicia S, Cortes C, Galindo F, Flores A. Development of Spontaneous Activity and Response Properties of Primary Lagenar Neurons in the Chick. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2010; 30:327-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-009-9464-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2009] [Accepted: 09/18/2009] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Central projections of the lagena (the third otolith endorgan of the inner ear) in the pigeon. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-008-9033-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Comparative study on the morphology and the composition of the otoliths in the teleosts. Acta Otolaryngol 2008; 128:846-55. [PMID: 18607888 DOI: 10.1080/00016480701775005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
CONCLUSION Saccular otoliths of teleosts were mostly larger than utricular otoliths, which might relate to the three-dimensional movement. The large and heavy otolith may be better suited in saccules of the bottom and reef fishes. The quantities of iron in lagenar otoliths were found to be lower than those of birds. The function of the fish lagena remains to be elucidated by further studies. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the morphological characteristics and the chemical composition of the otoliths in fishes as related to behaviour and habitat. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied the morphology of the otoliths of 18 genera of fishes (81 samples) divided into 3 groups: saltwater fish (13 genera), freshwater fish except for the carp family (3 genera) and carp family fish (2 genera). The otoliths and the living environments were compared. The chemical composition was analysed using a synchrotron X-ray fluorescence analyser. RESULTS Bottom fishes generally have larger saccular otoliths, and migrating fishes have smaller saccular otoliths. In comparing the bottom/reef fishes and the migrating fishes in salt water, the former tended to have larger saccular otoliths. In saltwater bottom fishes the tendency was found that the thinner the head, the larger was the saccular otolith. We found significant quantities of iron, zinc and manganese in the lagenar otoliths.
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Sadovnichii VA, Soto E, Alexandrov VV, Alexandrova TB. The gravity-inertial mechanism of orientation in birds and other vertebrates. DOKLADY BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE USSR, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SECTIONS 2008; 419:133-135. [PMID: 18536283 DOI: 10.1134/s0012496608020191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2007] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- V A Sadovnichii
- Moscow State University, Leninskie gory, Moscow, 119899, Russia
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Li CX, Gong M, Huang YN, Tang ZQ, Chen L. Morphometry of otoliths in chicken macula lagena. Neurosci Lett 2006; 404:83-6. [PMID: 16806693 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2005] [Revised: 05/18/2006] [Accepted: 05/26/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The macula lagena located at the apical end of the cochlea in birds is characterized by the presence of numerous otoliths with unclear sensory functions. These otoliths are reported to be similar to those in the vestibular system but their detailed features in morphology are unknown. In the present study, we examined the number, size and shape of otoliths from the macula lagena in Chinese domestic chickens (Gallus Ling Nan) with a scanning electron microscope for morphometry. For chickens aged 10-15 post-hatch days, the otoliths in each macula lagena were counted to be 16,055 +/- 4038 (mean +/- S.D., n = 4). The average length and width were 12.98 +/- 3.70 microm and 5.10 +/- 1.48 microm (n = 526 otoliths), respectively. The ratio of length to width for the otolith was 2.58 +/- 0.39 (n = 526 otoliths) and remained relatively constant despite their variations in physical size. Almost all the otoliths were in regular shape and appeared like isolated cylinders with smooth facets at each end, but a few of them (0.025% of 64,221 otoliths screened) were found to be in odd shapes, such as T-shape and cross-shape. The results suggest that otoliths in the macula lagena and those in the vestibular system of bird's inner ear have similar physical properties and may play a similar role in sensing gravitational and acceleration signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Xiang Li
- Auditory Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei
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