A natural history of vision loss: Insight from evolution for human visual function

Sousa, Alexandra A. de; Todorov, Orlin S.; Proulx, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104550

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 145 publications

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“…Comparative biology is an important area of study because it considers the natural variation that has arisen through evolutionary pressures. We can use information from comparative neuroscience research to identify the model systems best suited to aging 33 – 35 . Companion animals share many similarities in brain organization (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Going beyond established model systems of Alzheimer’s disease: companion animals provide novel insights into the neurobiology of aging

de Sousa,

Rigby Dames,

Graff

et al. 2023

Commun Biol

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by brain plaques, tangles, and cognitive impairment. AD is one of the most common age-related dementias in humans. Progress in characterizing AD and other age-related disorders is hindered by a perceived dearth of animal models that naturally reproduce diseases observed in humans. Mice and nonhuman primates are model systems used to understand human diseases. Still, these model systems lack many of the biological characteristics of Alzheimer-like diseases (e.g., plaques, tangles) as they grow older. In contrast, companion animal models (cats and dogs) age in ways that resemble humans. Both companion animal models and humans show evidence of brain atrophy, plaques, and tangles, as well as cognitive decline with age. We embrace a One Health perspective, which recognizes that the health of humans is connected to those of animals, and we illustrate how such a perspective can work synergistically to enhance human and animal health. A comparative biology perspective is ideally suited to integrate insights across veterinary and human medical disciplines and solve long-standing problems in aging.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Going beyond established model systems of Alzheimer’s disease: companion animals provide novel insights into the neurobiology of aging

de Sousa,

Rigby Dames,

Graff

et al. 2023

Commun Biol

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Conservatism and Variability of the Antioxidant Defense System in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium of Vertebrates

Markitantova

Симирский

2023

J Evol Biochem Phys

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The sensory effects of light on the electric organ discharge rate of Gymnotus omarorum

Camargo

Caputi

Aguilera

2023

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Gymnotiformes are nocturnal fishes inhabiting the root mats of floating plants. They use their electric organ discharge (EOD) to explore the environment and to communicate. Here we show and describe tonic and phasic sensory-electromotor responses to light distinct from indirect effects depending on the light-induced endogenous circadian rhythm. At dark, principally during the night, inter-EOD interval histograms are bimodal, the main peak corresponds to the basal rate and a secondary peak corresponds to high frequency bouts. Light caused a twofold tonic but opposed effect on the EOD histogram: a) decreased the main mode and b) blocked the high frequency bouts and consequently increased the main peak at the expense of an erasure of the secondary one. Additionally, light evokes phasic responses whose amplitude increases with intensity but whose slow time course and poor adaptation differentiate from the so-called novelty responses evoked by abrupt changes in sensory stimuli of other modalities. We confirmed that Gymnotus omarorum tends to escape from light suggesting that these phasic responses are probably part of a global “light avoidance response”. We interpret the data within an ecological context. Fish rest under the shade of aquatic plants during the day and light spots due to the sun's relative movement alerts the fish to hide in shady zones to avoid macroptic predators and facilitate tracking the movement of floating plant islands by wind and/or water currents.

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A natural history of vision loss: Insight from evolution for human visual function

Cited by 4 publications

References 145 publications

Going beyond established model systems of Alzheimer’s disease: companion animals provide novel insights into the neurobiology of aging

Going beyond established model systems of Alzheimer’s disease: companion animals provide novel insights into the neurobiology of aging

Conservatism and Variability of the Antioxidant Defense System in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium of Vertebrates

The sensory effects of light on the electric organ discharge rate of Gymnotus omarorum

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