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      Deep brain photoreceptors control light-seeking behavior in zebrafish larvae.

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          Abstract

          Most vertebrates process visual information using elaborately structured photosensory tissues, including the eyes and pineal. However, there is strong evidence that other tissues can detect and respond to photic stimuli. Many reports suggest that photosensitive elements exist within the brain itself and influence physiology and behavior; however, a long-standing puzzle has been the identity of the neurons and photoreceptor molecules involved. We tested whether light cues influence behavior in zebrafish larvae through deep brain photosensors. We found that larvae lacking eyes and pineal perform a simple light-seeking behavior triggered by loss of illumination ("dark photokinesis"). Neuroanatomical considerations prompted us to test orthopedia (otpa)-deficient fish, which show a profound reduction in dark photokinesis. Using targeted genetic ablations, we narrowed the photosensitive region to neurons in the preoptic area. Neurons in this region express several photoreceptive molecules, but expression of the melanopsin opn4a is selectively lost in otpa mutants, suggesting that opn4a mediates dark photokinesis. Our findings shed light on the identity and function of deep brain photoreceptors and suggest that otpa specifies an ancient population of sensory neurons that mediate behavioral responses to light.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Curr Biol
          Current biology : CB
          Elsevier BV
          1879-0445
          0960-9822
          Nov 06 2012
          : 22
          : 21
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Developmental Biology Unit, Faculty of Biology, BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies and FRIAS Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
          Article
          S0960-9822(12)00944-X NIHMS401698
          10.1016/j.cub.2012.08.016
          3494761
          23000151
          f7eda6c2-bedd-4162-9382-f81b4747b042
          Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
          History

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