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Osmotic properties of Limulus seawaters and organ cultures: An unrecognized issue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2008

CORRINNE C.M. LIM-KESSLER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois
AMANDA R. BOLBECKER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Brain Science, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
JIA LI
Affiliation:
Sensory Coding Laboratory, Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana
GERALD S. WASSERMAN
Affiliation:
Sensory Coding Laboratory, Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana

Abstract

Excised eyes of the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) have long provided robust preparations for fundamental studies of the visual neuroscience of photoreceptors. Such preparations are particularly useful for immersion in perfusion chambers whose perfusate can be varied as needed. Little attention has been paid in the past to the osmotic properties of such perfusates because they have generally been virtually isotonic with natural seawater. We here report that (1) some recent Limulus studies have used organ culture perfusates that are severely hypotonic and (2) that that fact has not been adequately disclosed.

Type
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Copyright
© 2008 Cambridge University Press

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