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Assessing the Effect of Eye Regression on Light‐Mediated Activity in a Model Fish Species

Coordination of biological processes with external cues is necessary for the success and survival of most organisms. Diverse taxa employ sunlight to entrain rhythmic clock gene expression, influencing patterns in activity and other biological outputs. Visual systems play an important role in receiving and transducing photic signals. Damage, malformation or regression of the eyes can reduce or eliminate an organism's capacity to integrate such cues, potentially causing a decoupling of biological outputs from photic cycles and a breakdown in circadian rhythmicity. We aimed to assess the effect of eye regression on coordination of activity patterns with light cycles in Astyanax mexicanus. This model fish system consists of a blind cave‐dwelling morphotype and a surface morphotype with a functional visual system. Our results indicate cave morphs retain the ability to sync activity with photic cues, though responses differ from the surface form in amplitude and polarity. These results suggest that, despite visual system regression, cavefish retain the capacity for extraocular photoreception. Research supported by University of Cincinnati University Research Council and Dept. of Biological Sciences.