Circadian rhythms of behavioral cone sensitivity and long wavelength opsin mRNA expression: a correlation study in zebrafish

Encephalopsin (OPN3) belongs to the light-sensitive transmembrane receptor family mainly expressed in the brain and retina. It is believed that light affects mammalian circadian rhythmicity only through the retinohypothalamic tract, which transmits light information to the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. However, it has been shown that light penetrates the skull. Here, we present the effect of transcranial light treatment on OPN3 expression and monoamine concentrations in mouse brain and other tissues. Mice were randomly assigned to control group, morning-light group and evening-light group, and animals were illuminated transcranially five times a week for 8 min for a total of 4 weeks. The concentrations of OPN3 and monoamines were analysed using western blotting and HPLC, respectively. We report that transcranial light treatment affects OPN3 expression in different brain areas and plasma/adrenal gland monoamine concentrations. In addition, when light was administered at a different time of the day, the response varied in different tissues. These results provide new information on the effects of light on transmitters mediating mammalian rhythmicity.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Transcranial light affects the expression of brain encephalopsin and plasma monoamine concentration in the mouse

Flyktman

Mänttäri

Nissilä

et al. 2015

“…ERG recordings commenced at least 1h after the onset of the light phase and were completed before the onset of the dark phase to eliminate any circadian rhythm effects (Li et al, 2005). A glass electrode (1.5mm outer diameter, 1mm inner diameter, borosilicate glass; World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, FL, USA) pulled to a tip diameter of 80-125m (P-97 Flaming/Brown Micropipette puller, Sutter Instruments, Novato, CA, USA) was loaded with saline (0.684moll -1 sodium chloride) and inserted into a saline-filled chlorided AgCl half-cell (A-M Systems, Sequim, WA, USA).…”

Section: Erg Recording and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, the expression of cone opsin genes in the bluefin killifish (Fuller and Claricoates, 2011) as well as the frequency of cone photoreceptors (measured using microspectrophotometry) in the black bream (Shand et al, 2008) were shown to differ between fish reared under different light conditions. Additionally, in the zebrafish, a considerable variation in opsin gene expression was detected across different photoperiod regimes (Li et al, 2005). In …”

Section: Ontogenetic Changes In Cone Pigment Frequency and Photorecepmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogeny in the visual system of Nile tilapia

Sabbah

Hui

Hauser

et al. 2012

Self Cite

SUMMARYRetinal neurogenesis in fish facilitates cellular rearrangement throughout ontogeny, potentially allowing for optimization of the visual system to shifts in habitat and behaviour. To test this possibility, we studied the developmental trajectory of the photopic visual process in the Nile tilapia. We examined ontogenetic changes in lens transmission, photoreceptor sensitivity and postreceptoral sensitivity, and used these to estimate changes in cone pigment frequency and retinal circuitry. We observed an ontogenetic decrease in ultraviolet (UV) photoreceptor sensitivity, which resulted from a reduction in the SWS1 cone pigment frequency, and was associated with a reduction in lens transmission at UV wavelengths. Additionally, post-receptoral sensitivity to both UV and long wavelengths decreased with age, probably reflecting changes in photoreceptor sensitivity and retinal circuitry. This novel remodelling of retinal circuitry occurred following maturation of the visual system but prior to reaching adulthood, and thus may facilitate optimization of the visual system to the changing sensory demands. Interestingly, the changes in post-receptoral sensitivity to long wavelengths could not be predicted by the changes observed in lens transmission, cone pigment frequency or photoreceptor sensitivity. This finding emphasizes the importance of considering knowledge of visual sensitivity and retinal processing when studying visual adaptations and attempting to relate visual function to the natural environment. This study advances our understanding of ontogeny in visual systems and demonstrates that the association between different elements of the visual process can be explored effectively by examining visual function throughout ontogeny.

“…These are regulated by signals from circadian clocks. Specific effects of circadian signals on vertebrate rods and cones differ with the species but include outer segment membrane shedding (LaVail, 1976), cone retinomotor movements (Levinson and Burnside, 1981), the expression and modulation of photoreceptor ion channels (Ko et al, 2001;Ko et al, 2007) and opsin gene expression (Korenbrot and Fernald, 1989;Pierce et al, 1993;Li et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opsin1-2, Gqα and arrestin levels at Limulus rhabdoms are controlled by diurnal light and a circadian clock

Battelle

Kempler

Parker

et al. 2013

in white-eyed Drosophila maintained under artificial light. Here we tested whether protein levels at rhabdoms change significantly in the highly pigmented lateral eyes of wild-caught Limulus polyphemus maintained in natural diurnal illumination and whether these changes are under circadian control. We found that rhabdomeral levels of opsins (Ops1-2), the G protein activated by rhodopsin (G q α) and arrestin change significantly from day to night and that nighttime levels of each protein at rhabdoms are significantly influenced by signals from the animalʼs central circadian clock. Clock input at night increases Ops1-2 and G q α and decreases arrestin levels at rhabdoms. Clock input is also required for a rapid decrease in rhabdomeral Ops1-2 beginning at sunrise. We found further that dark adaptation during the day and the night are not equivalent. During daytime dark adaptation, when clock input is silent, the increase of Ops1-2 at rhabdoms is small and G q α levels do not increase. However, increases in Ops1-2 and G q α at rhabdoms are enhanced during daytime dark adaptation by treatments that elevate cAMP in photoreceptors, suggesting that the clock influences dark-adaptive increases in Ops1-2 and G q α at Limulus rhabdoms by activating cAMP-dependent processes. The circadian regulation of Ops1-2 and G q α levels at rhabdoms probably has a dual role: to increase retinal sensitivity at night and to protect photoreceptors from light damage during the day.