Summary
A study of the structure and distribution of encapsulated corpuscles (corpuscles of Rochon-Duvigneaud) in the irido-corneal (anterior chamber) angle in 42 adult eyes from nine species of odontocete cetaceans representing each of the five families in this group indicates a diversity of form and function. The corpuscles occur as single features or multiple groupings with each species having a distinct pattern. No definite phylogenic or environmental patterns were seen although sometimes there were similarities among related genera. The neural structure of the angle suggests that these receptors probably respond to a variety of stimuli including intraocular pressure, vitreous displacements, external muscular force applied to the sclera and cornea, and changes in the volume of the massive iris/choroid vascular system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bill A (1975) Blood circulation and fluid dynamics in the eye. Physiol Rev 55:383–396
Calkins LL (1960) The aqueous filtration angle: A phylogenetic and ontogenetic comparative histoanatomic study of mammalian eyes. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 58:364–391
Dawson WW, Perez JM (1973) Unusual retinal cells in dolphin eyes. Science 181:747–749
Donaldson BJ (1977) The tongue of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). In: Harrison RJ (ed) Functional Anatomy of Marine Mammals. Academic Press, San Francisco, Vol 3
Oral ADG (1977) On the retinal anatomy of cetacea (mainly Tursiops truncatus). In: Harrison RJ (ed) Functional Anatomy of Marine Mammals. Academic Press, San Francisco, Vol 3
Düring Mv (1974) The ultrastructure of cutaneous receptors in the skin of Caiman crocodilus. In: Schwartzkopff J (ed) Symposium: Mechanoreception. Abhandlungen Rheinisch-Westfälischen Akad Wissenschaften. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, Bd 53
Iggo A, Gottschaldt KM (1974) Cutaneous mechanoreceptors in simple and complex sensory structures. In: Schwartzkopff J (ed) Symposium: Mechanoreception. Abhandlungen der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Akad Wissenschaften. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, Bd 53
Ilvinsky OB, Volkova NK, Chevepnov VL, Krylov BV (1976) Morphofunctional properties of pacinian corpuscles. Prog Brain Res 43:173–186
Necker R (1974) Temperature sensitivity of slowly-adapting mechanoreceptors on the beaks of pigeons. In: Schwartzkopff J (ed) Symposium: Mechanoreception. Abhandlungen der Rheinisch Westfälischen Akad Wissenschaften. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, Bd 53
Pilleri G, Wandeler A (1964) Ontogenese und funktionelle Morphologie des Auges des Finnwals, Balenoptera physlus. L. (Cetacea, Mysticeti, Balaenoptoridae). Acta Anat Suppl 50:1–73
Rochon-Duvigneaud AJF (1940) L'oeil des cétacés. Arch Mus Hist Nat Paris 16:57–90
Ruskell GL (1976) The source of nerve fibers of the trabeculae and adjacent structures in monkey eyes. Exp Eye Res 23:449–459
Saxod R (1978) Development of cutaneous sensory receptors in birds. In: Development of Sensory Systems, Handbook of Sensory Physiology. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York, Vol 9
Vrabec F (1961) The topography of encapsulated terminal sensory corpuscles of the angle of the goose eye. In: Smelser G (ed) The Structure of the Eye. Academic Press, New York
Vrabec F (1972) Encapsulated sensory corpuscles in the sclero-corneal boundary tissues of the killer whale (Orcinus orca 1.) Acta Anat 8:23–29
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wickham, M.G. Irido-corneal angle of mammalian eyes: Comparative morphology of encapsulated corpuscles in odontocete cetaceans. Cell Tissue Res. 210, 501–515 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220206
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220206