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Journal of Experimental Biology 15,363-370 (1938)
Published by Company of Biologists 1938

The Control of Photo-Pigmentary Responses in Eyeless Catfish

URSULA WYKES ¹

¹ Harvard Biological Laboratories

1. In common with certain other teleosts and lacertilians, eyeless Amiurus nebulosus and Fundulus heteroclitus show a pigmentary response to changes in intensity of illumination. The melanophores contract in the darkness and expand in bright light. The control of this photic response was investigated in Amiurus.

2. The contraction in darkness was not obtained in areas denervated by section of spinal nerves nor in the posterior part of the body after section of the cord. The response is therefore under the control of nervous reflexes passing through the brain. A similar melanophore contraction can be obtained by electrical stimulation of the cord at extremely low frequencies.

3. The response remained in pinealectomized animals. Photoreceptors may possibly be located in the skin or the wall of the diencephalon may be sensitive to light.

4. After hypophysectomy the response continues but the degree of melanophore expansion in bright light is diminished. The expanding hormone of the pituitary is therefore important in that it augments a melanophore response which is under nervous control.