Planarian Phototactic Assay Reveals Differential Behavioral Responses Based on Wavelength.

ABSTRACT: Planarians are free-living aquatic flatworms that possess a well-documented photophobic response to light. With a true central nervous system and simple cerebral eyes (ocelli), planarians are an emerging model for regenerative eye research. However, comparatively little is known about the physiology of their photoreception or how their behavior is affected by various wavelengths. Most phototactic studies have examined planarian behavior using white light. Here, we describe a novel planarian behavioral assay to test responses to small ranges of visible wavelengths (red, blue, green), as well as ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) which have not previously been examined. Our data show that planarians display behavioral responses across a range of wavelengths. These responses occur in a hierar

SUBMITTER: Paskin TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4262426 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature