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Structure and function of the vertebrate magnetic sense

Nature volume 390, pages 371–376 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Some vertebrates can navigate over long distances using the Earth's magnetic field, but the sensory system that they use to do so has remained a mystery. Here we describe the key components of a magnetic sense underpinning this navigational ability in a single species, the rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss). We report behavioural and electrophysiological responses to magnetic fields and identify an area in the nose of the trout where candidate magnetoreceptor cells are located. We have tracked the sensory pathway from these newly identified candidate magnetoreceptor cells to the brain and associated the system with a learned response to magnetic fields.

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Figure 1: Discrimination of the presence and absence of a magnetic anomaly by rainbow trout.
Figure 2: Electrophysiological responses to magnetic fields.
Figure 3: Detection of intracellular magnetite.
Figure 4: Three steps in a 270° rotation series of a three-dimensional volume-rendered image stack showing the path of a nerve process (right of dashed line) as it enters the top of a lamella.
Figure 5: Optical slices showing two different branching patterns of DiI-labelled nerve processes entering trout olfactory lamellae.
Figure 6: Schematic diagram of the innervation of the head region and nasal capsule of the trout by the SOt branch of the ros V.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Whitehall Foundation, Marsden Fund, New Zealand Lotteries Grants Board, Auckland University Research Committee and School of Biological Sciences for support; W. T. M. Gruijters, B. M. Davy, I. MacDonald, V. Ward, A. Young and A. Cantell for technical assistance; and M. E. Bitterman, A. R. Bellamy and G. G. Dodson for helpful comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Patricia M. Pankhurst

    Present address: Department of Aquaculture, University of Tasmania at Launceston, Box 1214, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Biology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Michael M. Walker, Carol E. Diebel, Cordula V. Haugh, Patricia M. Pankhurst & John C. Montgomery

  2. Department of Anatomy with Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Colin R. Green

Author notes

  1. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to M.M.W.

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    1. Michael M. Walker
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    Correspondence to Michael M. Walker.

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    Walker, M., Diebel, C., Haugh, C. et al. Structure and function of the vertebrate magnetic sense. Nature 390, 371–376 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/37057

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