Species–specific circuitry of double cone photoreceptors in two avian retinas

Abstract

Abstract In most avian retinas, double cones (consisting of a principal and accessory member) outnumber other photoreceptor types and have been associated with various functions, such as encoding luminance, sensing polarized light, and magnetoreception. However, their down-stream circuitry is poorly understood, particularly across bird species. Analysing species differences is important to understand changes in circuitry driven by ecological adaptations. We compare the ultrastructure of double cones and their postsynaptic bipolar cells between a night-migratory European robin and non-migratory chicken. We discover four previously unidentified bipolar cell types in the European robin retina, including midget-like bipolar cells mainly connected to one principal member. A downstream ganglion cell reveals a complete midget-like circuit similar to a circuit in the peripheral primate retina. Additionally, we identify a selective circuit transmitting information from a specific subset of accessory members. Our data highlight species-specific differences in double cone to bipolar cell connectivity, potentially reflecting ecological adaptations.