Zebrafish Dark-Dependent Behavior Requires Phototransduction by the Pineal Gland.

ABSTRACT: Located dorsally underneath a thin translucent skull in many teleosts, the pineal gland is a photoreceptive organ known as a key element of the circadian clock system. Nevertheless, the presence of additional routes of photoreception presents a challenge in determining its specific roles in regulating photic-related behavior. Here, we show the importance of the pineal gland in mediating a prolonged motor response of zebrafish larvae to sudden darkness, both as a photodetector and as a circadian pacemaker. This was evident by a reduced motor response of Bsx-deficient larvae, lacking a pineal gland, to sudden darkness. Moreover, the typical daily rhythm of the intensity of this response was lost in the pineal-less larvae. In contrast, motor response to a sudden increase in illumination was u

SUBMITTER: Wexler Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11664460 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature