Projects per year
Abstract
Results: To define sensory mechanisms controlling mouse behaviour, we used photoreceptor-isolating stimuli and mice with altered cone spectral sensitivity (Opn1mwR), lacking melanopsin (Opn1mwR;Opn4-/-) or cone phototransduction (Cnga3-/-) in assays of light-avoidance and activity suppression. In addition to roles for melanopsin-dependent irradiance signals, we find a major influence of spectral content in both cases. Hence, remarkably, selective increases in S-cone irradiance (producing a blue-shift in spectrum replicating twilight) drive light-seeking behaviour and promote activity. These effects are opposed by signals from longer-wavelength sensitive cones, indicating a true spectrally-opponent mechanism. Using c-Fos-mapping and multielectrode electrophysiology, we further show these effects are associated with a selective cone-opponent modulation of neural activity in the key brain site implicated in acute effects of light on behaviour, the subparaventricular zone.
Conclusions: Collectively, these data reveal a mechanism whereby blue-shifts in the spectrum of environmental illumination, such as during twilight, promote mouse exploratory behaviour.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 178 |
Journal | BMC Biology |
Volume | 21 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 21 Aug 2023 |
Keywords
- photoreceptor
- masking
- hypothalamus
- mouse
- behaviour
- electrophysiology
- cone
- melanopsin
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Centre for Biological Timing
Lucas, R. (PI), Bechtold, D. (PI), Fustin, J.-M. (PI), Ashe, H. (PI), Brown, T. (PI), Blaikley, J. (PI), Brass, A. (PI), Chandola, T. (PI), Durrington, H. (PI), Else, K. (PI), Hepworth, M. (PI), Hunter, L. (PI), Kadler, K. (PI), Kitchen, G. (PI), Loudon, A. (PI), Macdonald, A. (PI), Mcbeth, J. (PI), Milosavljevic, N. (PI), Rattray, M. (PI), Rutter, M. (PI), Sharrocks, A. (PI), Spiller, D. (PI), Storchi, R. (PI), Belle, M. (PI), Meng, Q.-J. (PI), Allen, A. (PI), Dixon, W. (PI), Gibbs, J. (PI), Hazel, A. (PI), Papalopulu, N. (PI), Ray, D. (PI), White, M. (PI) & Chang, J. (PI)
Project: Research
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Role of the Lateral Hypothalamus in Alerting Effects of Light.
Brown, T. (PI), Bechtold, D. (CoI) & Lucas, R. (CoI)
1/07/19 → 15/12/22
Project: Research