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Serotonin modulates a photic response in circadian locomotor rhythmicity of adults of the blow fly, Calliphora vicina
Author(s) -
CYMBOROWSKI BRONISŁAW
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3032.1998.2310025.x
Subject(s) - calliphora vicina , circadian rhythm , biology , serotonin , darkness , hemolymph , endocrinology , circadian clock , medicine , neuroscience , anatomy , calliphoridae , receptor , botany , larva , biochemistry
. The present experiments were undertaken to explore a role for serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) in modulating photic signal transduction in photoreceptors of the blow fly, Calliphora vicina . Injection of p‐chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) into the haemolymph appeared to reduce sensitivity to the photic effects of constant ‘bright’ light (LL hyperactivity and circadian arrhythmicity). After drug injection in bright LL, flies continued with a free‐running rhythm as in constant darkness (DD) or with a lengthened period τ as in ‘dim’ LL. When 5‐HT was injected into flies kept in dim LL, they became hyperactive and arrhythmic as in bright LL. This finding suggests a potential role for serotonin as mediator of circadian changes in the insect visual system including extraretinal photoreceptors.