M. Balys et E. Pyza, Localization of the clock controlling circadian rhythms in the first neuropile of the optic lobe in the housefly, J EXP BIOL, 204(19), 2001, pp. 3303-3310
The visual system of a fly expresses several circadian rhythms that have be
en detected in the photoreceptors of the compound eye and in the first neur
opile, the lamina, of the underlying optic lobe. In the lamina, axons of tw
o classes of interneuron, L1 and L2, exhibit cyclical size changes, swellin
g by day and shrinking by night. These rhythmic size changes may be generat
ed by circadian oscillators located inside and/or outside the optic lobe. T
o localize such oscillators, we have examined changes in the axonal cross-s
ectional areas of L1 and L2 within the lamina of the housefly (Musca domest
ica) under conditions of 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness (LD12:12), cons
tant darkness (DD) or continuous light (LL) 24 h after the medulla was seve
red from the rest of the brain. After the lesion, the axon size changes of
L1 and L2 were maintained only in LD conditions, but were weaker than in co
ntrol flies. In DD and LL conditions, they were eliminated. This indicates
that circadian rhythms in the lamina of a fly are generated central to the
lamina and medulla neuropiles of the optic lobe. Cyclical changes of light
and darkness in LD conditions are still able, however, to induce a weak dai
ly rhythm in the axon sizes of L1 and L2.