Retinomotor Rhythms in the Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

Abstract

Bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, entrained to natural or artificial light–dark cycles, were confined to constant darkness for varying periods up to 42 hr at temperatures in the range 20–25 C. The retinomotor activities were determined from histological preparations. In the first night, the eyes became maximally dark-adapted within 1 or 2 hr. The pigment was contracted to a dense basal band, twin cones extended to the boundary of the pigment, and single cones extended into the pigment. After 2 or 3 hr in darkness, these components began a return toward their light-adapted positions, slowly for 5 or 6 hr, and then rapidly during the last 3 or 4 hr, and came to rest in an intermediate state of adaptation at subjective sunrise. In continuous darkness, the retina exhibited a rudimentary free-running rhythm, and there was some evidence of a 12-hr oscillation within the 24-hr period. The amplitudes of the rhythms ranged in decreasing order from twin cones to single cones to pigment and the extreme amplitudes occurred about 2 hr after sunset and at subjective sunrise. Single cones were always more extended than twin cones and only the rod-shaped particles, not the spheres, of pigment appeared to cycle. By the end of the experiment, the rhythms of cones were slightly damped and the rhythm of the pigment was greatly damped. Rods were not studied.