TY - JOUR

T1 - Electroretinographic study of the magnetic compass in European robins

AU - Астахова, Любовь Александровна

AU - Ротов, Александр Юрьевич

AU - Чербунин, Роман Викторович

AU - Горяченков, Арсений

AU - Кавокин, Кирилл Витальевич

AU - Фирсов, Михаил Леонидович

AU - Чернецов, Никита Севирович

PY - 2020/12/9

Y1 - 2020/12/9

N2 - Migratory birds are known to be sensitive to external magnetic field (MF). Much indirect evidence suggests that the avian magnetic compass is localized in the retina. Previously, we showed that changes in the MF direction could modulate retinal responses in pigeons. In the present study, we performed similar experiments using the traditional model animal to study the magnetic compass, European robins. The photoresponses of isolated retina were recorded using ex vivo electroretinography (ERG). Blue- and red-light stimuli were applied under an MF with the natural intensity and two MF directions, when the angle between the plane of the retina and the field lines was 0° and 90°, respectively. The results were separately analysed for four quadrants of the retina. A comparison of the amplitudes of the a- and b-waves of the ERG responses to blue stimuli under the two MF directions revealed a small but significant difference in a- but not b-waves, and in only one (nasal) quadrant of the retina. The amplitudes of both the a- and b-waves of the ERG responses to red stimuli did not show significant effects of the MF direction. Thus, changes in the external MF modulate the European robin retinal responses to blue flashes, but not to red flashes. This result is in a good agreement with behavioural data showing the successful orientation of birds in an MF under blue, but not under red illumination.

AB - Migratory birds are known to be sensitive to external magnetic field (MF). Much indirect evidence suggests that the avian magnetic compass is localized in the retina. Previously, we showed that changes in the MF direction could modulate retinal responses in pigeons. In the present study, we performed similar experiments using the traditional model animal to study the magnetic compass, European robins. The photoresponses of isolated retina were recorded using ex vivo electroretinography (ERG). Blue- and red-light stimuli were applied under an MF with the natural intensity and two MF directions, when the angle between the plane of the retina and the field lines was 0° and 90°, respectively. The results were separately analysed for four quadrants of the retina. A comparison of the amplitudes of the a- and b-waves of the ERG responses to blue stimuli under the two MF directions revealed a small but significant difference in a- but not b-waves, and in only one (nasal) quadrant of the retina. The amplitudes of both the a- and b-waves of the ERG responses to red stimuli did not show significant effects of the MF direction. Thus, changes in the external MF modulate the European robin retinal responses to blue flashes, but not to red flashes. This result is in a good agreement with behavioural data showing the successful orientation of birds in an MF under blue, but not under red illumination.

KW - European robin

KW - birds

KW - electroretinography

KW - magnetic compass

KW - magnetoreception

KW - retina

KW - ORIENTATION BEHAVIOR

KW - WAVELENGTH

KW - LIGHT

KW - BIRDS

KW - MAGNETORECEPTION

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097514685&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/1bb0a054-b93f-3089-a76f-af7fc64c0032/

U2 - 10.1098/rspb.2020.2507

DO - 10.1098/rspb.2020.2507

M3 - Article

C2 - 33290671

VL - 287

JO - Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

JF - Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

SN - 0962-8452

IS - 1940

M1 - 20202507

ER -