Fine structural and volumetric changes of lamprey photoreceptor cells during light and dark periods

Summary Short photoreceptor cells of the lamprey retina exhibited a 30% increase in the width of the myoid process and a 20% increase in that of the axonal process during a 12-h light period, compared to the measurements obtained during a 12-h dark period. An increase in the amount of cytoplasm, dilation of ER cisterns, and swelling of the nucleus appeared to cause the enlargement of the myoid parts. Accumulation of synaptic vesicles occurred concurrently with a thickening of the axonal process. These morphological changes presumably represent a phase of the diurnal cycle and current synaptic activity of the short cell. By contrast, the long photorecpetor cell showed neither measurable changes nor any indication of retinomotor movement.