Summary
1. A fast transient peak of light, followed by a slow luminescence, was produced by isolated photophores of Porichthys notatus when exposed to 1 mM-epinephrine, norepinephrine or phenylephrine, an α-adrenergic agonist. Only a slow luminescence was induced by 1 mM-isoproterenol, the β-adrenergic agonist.
2. After removal of the reflector and surrounding tissues, the isolated photogenic cells, i.e. the photocytes, responded to norepinephrine and phenylephrine by producing a fast transient peak of light, and to isoproterenol by a slow luminescence. Epinephrine evoked both types of luminescence. The emission latency time, the amplitude and the total duration of the light responses were significantly less than those of the photophore.
3. The results suggest that both epinephrine and norepinephrine combine with sympathetic α or β receptors upon the photocytes to trigger light production.
- © 1983 by Company of Biologists
Article navigation
Related articles
Cited by...
More in this TOC section
Similar articles
Other journals from The Company of Biologists
Editors’ choice – Breath-holding locusts don't keep spiracles open when they exhale
Photo credit: Stav Talal.
Diapausing butterfly larvae keep their spiracles open while exhaling during discontinuous gas exchange; however, a recent study from Stav Talal and co-workers reveals that adult locusts do not. Instead they repeatedly open and close their spiracles in time with contractions of the abdominal muscle to expel air from the body.
JEB in the news – Sheep hair curl secret in cells
Photo credit: Anita Grosvenor.
Why does hair curl? By looking at curly merino sheep wool, scientists from New Zealand and Japan have discovered that the hair cells lining the outside of the curl are long (orthocortical cells) while the cells on the inside of the curl are another type (paracortical cells), which are short, making the hair bend to give it a curl. This JEB Research Article was reported in the New York Times and ABC news.
Commentary – Robotics-inspired biology
Robotic devices are increasingly generating ideas for experiments on living animals. Nick Gravish and George V. Lauder explore this new twist on the inspiration that biologists have traditionally taken from mechanical systems.
JEB symposium 2017 – The biology of fat
Delegates at the 2017 Journal of Experimental Biology symposium ‘The biology of fat’ share their experiences and highlights of the meeting. We have also recently published a special issue featuring review articles based on the talks at this meeting.