Identification of nonvisual photomotor response cells in the vertebrate hindbrain.

J Neurosci
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

Nonvisual photosensation enables animals to sense light without sight. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nonvisual photobehaviors are poorly understood, especially in vertebrate animals. Here, we describe the photomotor response (PMR), a robust and reproducible series of motor behaviors in zebrafish that is elicited by visual wavelengths of light but does not require the eyes, pineal gland, or other canonical deep-brain photoreceptive organs. Unlike the relatively slow effects of canonical nonvisual pathways, motor circuits are strongly and quickly (seconds) recruited during the PMR behavior. We find that the hindbrain is both necessary and sufficient to drive these behaviors. Using in vivo calcium imaging, we identify a discrete set of neurons within the hindbrain whose responses to light mirror the PMR behavior. Pharmacological inhibition of the visual cycle blocks PMR behaviors, suggesting that opsin-based photoreceptors control this behavior. These data represent the first known light-sensing circuit in the vertebrate hindbrain.

Year of Publication
2013
Journal
J Neurosci
Volume
33
Issue
9
Pages
3834-43
Date Published
2013 Feb 27
ISSN
1529-2401
URL
DOI
10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3689-12.2013
PubMed ID
23447595
PubMed Central ID
PMC3600642
Links
Grant list
R21 MH085205 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
DP1 NS082121 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01MH086867 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
K01MH091449 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA140188 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
K01 MH091449 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 DA030304 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
DP1 NS082121 / DP / NCCDPHP CDC HHS / United States
T32 MH020017 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH086867 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R21MH085205 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01DA030304 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
Wellcome Trust / United Kingdom