Analysis of photoentrainment in the diurnal zebrafish suggests a profound divergence with nocturnal rodents

The eye is instrumental for controlling circadian rhythms in mice and human. Here, we address the conservation of this function in the zebrafish, a diurnal vertebrate. Using lakritz (lak) mutant larvae, which lack retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), we show that while a functional eye contributes to masking, it is largely dispensable for the establishment of circadian rhythms of locomotor activity. Furthermore, the eye is dispensable for the induction of a phase delay following a pulse of white light at CT 16 but contributes to the induction of a phase advance upon a pulse of white light at CT21. Melanopsin photopigments are important mediators of photoentrainment, as shown in nocturnal mammals. One of the zebrafish melanopsin genes, opn4xa, is expressed in RGCs but also in photosensitive projection neurons in the pineal gland. Pineal opn4xa+ projection neurons function in a LIGHT ON manner in contrast to other projection neurons which function in a LIGHT OFF mode. We generated an opn4xa mutant in which the pineal LIGHT ON response is impaired. This mutation has no effect on masking and circadian rhythms of locomotor activity, or for the induction of phase shifts, but slightly modifies period length when larvae are subjected to constant light. Finally, analysis of opn4xa;lak double mutant larvae did not reveal redundancy between the function of the eye and opn4xa in the pineal for the control of phase shifts after light pulses. Our results support the idea that the eye is not the sole mediator of light influences on circadian rhythms of locomotor activity and highlight differences in the circadian system and photoentrainment of behaviour between different animal models. Author summaryExperiments performed in mice have established a crucial role for the eye in general and melanopsin expressing cells in particular in the control of circadian rhythms most notably during photoentrainment, by which circadian rhythms adapt to a changing light environment. In marked contrast to this, we show that in zebrafish the eye and photosensitivity dependent on one of the melanopsin genes, opn4xa, which is expressed in both the eye and the pineal gland, are largely dispensable for correct circadian rhythms. These results provide insight that the light sensors orchestrating circadian rhythms of locomotor activity are different between animal models supporting that vertebrates might employ different molecular/cellular circuits for photoentrainment of behaviour depending on their phylogeny and/or temporal niche.