Superparamagnetic magnetite in the upper-beak tissue of homing pigeon
- Abstract
Homing pigeons have been subject of various studies trying to detect magnetic material which might be involved in magnetic field perception. Here we focus on the upper-beak skin of homing pigeons, a region that has previously been shown to contain nerves sensitive to changes of the ambient magnetic field. We localized Fe3+ concentrations in the subcutis and identified the material by transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) as aggregates of magnetite nanocrystals (with grain sizes between 1 and 5 nm). The particles form clusters of 1-3 mum diameter, which are arranged in distinct coherent elongated structures, associated with nervous tissue and located between fat cells. Complementary low-temperature magnetic measurements confirm the microscopic observations of fine-grained superparamagnetic particles in the tissue. Neither electron-microscopic nor magnetic measurements revealed any single-domain magnetite in the upper-beak skin tissue.
- BibTeX
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@article{id114, author = {Hanzlik, M. and Heunemann, C. and Holtkamp-R\"otzler, E. and Winklhofer, M. and Petersen, N. and Fleissner, G.}, doi = {10.1023/A:1009214526685}, journal = {Biometals}, language = {en}, number = {4}, pages = {325-331}, title = {Superparamagnetic magnetite in the upper-beak tissue of homing pigeon}, volume = {13}, year = {2000}, }
- EndNote
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%O Journal Article %A Hanzlik, M. %A Heunemann, C. %A Holtkamp-Rötzler, E. %A Winklhofer, M. %A Petersen, N. %A Fleissner, G. %R 10.1023/A:1009214526685 %J Biometals %G en %N 4 %P 325-331 %T Superparamagnetic magnetite in the upper-beak tissue of homing pigeon %V 13 %D 2000