FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental BiologyApr 16, 2013

How different light sensors control feeding patterns in blind birds

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Blind GUCY1 chickens can synchronize their feeding rhythms to light levels greater than 12 lux*.

Wild-type and GUCY1* chickens adjusted their feeding rhythms to light conditions above 12 lux, while lower light levels resulted in a free-running rhythm exceeding 24 hours.
Both wild-type and blind chickens became arrhythmic when exposed to constant light.
After head occlusion, blind GUCY1* birds exhibited a free-running period of 24.5 hours.
In enucleated birds, illuminating the brain synchronized their feeding rhythms.
Pinealectomized birds only responded to high-intensity light (≥800 lux), indicating the presence of functional deep brain photoreceptors.
The study suggests that multiple photoreceptive systems, including retinal and extraretinal ones, play distinct roles in regulating circadian feeding behavior.

Simplified

All organisms have evolved photodetection systems to synchronize their physiology and behavior with the external light-dark (LD) cycles. In nonmammalian vertebrates, the retina, the pineal organ, and the deep brain can be photoreceptive. Inner retinal photoreceptors transmit photic information to the brain and regulate diverse nonvisual tasks. We previously reported that even after preventing extraretinal photoreception, blind GUCY1 chickens lacking functional visual photoreceptors could perceive light that modulates physiology and behavior. Here we investigated the contribution of different photoreceptive system components (retinal/pineal and deep brain photoreceptors) to the photic entrainment of feeding rhythms. Wild-type (WT) and GUCY1 birds with head occlusion to avoid extraocular light detection synchronized their feeding rhythms to a LD cycle with light >12 lux, whereas at lower intensities blind birds free-ran with a period of >24 h. When released to constant light, both WT and blind chickens became arrhythmic; however, after head occlusion, GUCY1* birds free-ran with a 24.5-h period. In enucleated birds, brain illumination synchronized feeding rhythms, but in pinealectomized birds only responses to high-intensity light (≥800 lux) were observed, revealing functional deep brain photoreceptors. In chickens, a multiple photoreceptive system, including retinal and extraretinal photoreceptors, differentially contributes to the synchronization of circadian feeding behavior.

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How different light sensors control feeding patterns in blind birds

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