The existence of a magnetic compass system was first demonstrated in birds. Since then, extensive of data have been accumulated on the operation of the magnetic compass in birds and its relationship with visual reception. The currently dominant concept is that the receptor supporting operation of the magnetic compass in birds is located in the retina. The most popular hypothesis for how magnetic field receptors work is the radical pair hypothesis, in which cryptochrome, more specifically, the cryptochrome 4a isoform, is the candidate for the role of the primary magnetoreceptor molecule. Recent research has yielded data on the interaction of cryptochrome with various proteins involved in the phototransduction cascade, along with promising data from electrophysiological studies combining visual (light) and magnetic stimulation. In addition, a number of morphological studies of the avian retina are also helping to narrow the range of possible cells for the role of magnetoreceptor, with double cones being currently the most likely candidate. In this review, we discuss the latest research in this area.
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Translated from Sensornye Sistemy, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 3–16, January–March, 2023.
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Astakhova, L.A., Rotov, A.Y. & Chernetsov, N.S. The Relationship between the Magnetic Compass and Vision in Birds: In Search of Receptor Cells. Neurosci Behav Physi 53, 1014–1024 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-023-01495-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-023-01495-5