Optometry Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Optometry, including details on myopia, optometric practice, therapy.

Eye Morphology in some Wild Rodents.

Lluch S, Ventura J, López-Fuster MJ

Departament d’Òptica i Optometria, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Violinista Vellsolà 37, E-08222 Terrassa, Spain.

The eye anatomy of six rodent species (Murinae: Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus domesticus, and Mus spretus; Arvicolinae: Clethrionomys glareolus, Arvicola terrestris and Microtus arvalis) was compared by means of light or electron microscopy to determine adaptive, and evolutive signals. Our observations revealed inter-specific morphological differences, which were moderate among representatives of the same subfamily. Specifically, traits that distinguished murines from arvicolines were the globe's relative size, the pupillary constrictor muscle, the amount of retinal epithelium melanin, and the thickness of certain ocular coats. Moreover, adaptations to new habitats and differences in temporal activity among species of the same subfamily determined discords respect to the phylogenetic patterns. This was true of the adaptations to underground conditions seen in A. terrestris, which involved the thickness of the cornea, sclera, and choroids. Likewise, A. sylvaticus had adaptations to its nocturnal lifestyle, as shown by the large overall size of the eye and lens, and by a large, thick cornea.

Published 16 January 2008 in Anat Histol Embryol, 37(1): 41-51.
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