Regulation of mammalian circadian behavior by non-rod, non-cone, ocular photoreceptors.
Circadian rhythms of mammals are entrained by light to follow the daily solar cycle (photoentrainment). To determine whether retinal rods and cones are required for this response, the effects of light on the regulation of circadian wheel-running behavior were examined in mice lacking these photoreceptors. Mice without cones (cl) or without both rods and cones (rdta/cl) showed unattenuated phase-shifting responses to light. Removal of the eyes abolishes this behavior. Thus, neither rods nor cones are required for photoentrainment, and the murine eye contains additional photoreceptors that regulate the circadian clock.
Freedman
M S
MS
Department of Biology, Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Lucas
R J
RJ
Soni
B
B
von Schantz
M
M
Muñoz
M
M
David-Gray
Z
Z
Foster
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000502:physiology*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000502:physiology; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000502:physiology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology
D010860:Pigments, Biological; D012168:Retinal Pigments