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First published online June 7, 2004
Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 2379-2387 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01033
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Pineal organs of deep-sea fish: photopigments and structure

James K. Bowmaker1,* and Hans-Joachim Wagner2

1 Division of Visual Science, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
2 Graduate School of Neural and Behavioural Sciences, Max Planck Research School, Anatomisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: j.bowmaker{at}ucl.ac.uk)

Accepted 19 April 2004

We have examined the morphology and photopigments of the pineal organs from a number of mesopelagic fish, including representatives of the hatchet fish (Sternoptychidae), scaly dragon-fish (Chauliodontidae) and bristlemouths (Gonostomidae). Although these fish were caught at depths of between 500 and 1000 m, the morphological organisation of their pineal organs is remarkably similar to that of surface-dwelling fish. Photoreceptor inner and outer segments protrude into the lumen of the pineal vesicle, and the outer segment is composed of a stack of up to 20 curved disks that form a cap-like cover over the inner segment. In all species, the pineal photopigment was spectrally distinct from the retinal rod pigment, with {lambda}max displaced to longer wavelengths, between ~485 and 503 nm. We also investigated the pineal organ of the deep demersal eel, Synaphobranchus kaupi, caught at depths below 2000 m, which possesses a rod visual pigment with {lambda}max at 478 nm, but the pineal pigment has {lambda}max at ~515 nm. In one species of hatchet fish, Argyropelecus affinis, two spectral classes of pinealocyte were identified, both spectrally distinct from the retinal rod photopigment.

Key words: photopigment, pineal organ, pinealocyte, pineal pigment, morphology, fish


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