SPONTANEOUS AND LIGHT-EVOKED DISCHARGE OF THE ISOLATED ABDOMINAL NERVE CORD OF CRAYFISH IN VITRO REVEALS CIRCADIAN OSCILLATIONS

We examined the well-known spontaneous discharge (SD) and lightevoked (PD) discharge of the crayfish caudal photoreceptor for the possible existence of a daily rhythm in spike frequency. To do this, we isolated the abdominal nerve cord in vitro and studied its discharge frequency in constant darkness. Single cosinor analysis revealed significant SD and PD circadian rhythms (P < .05) with periods (tau) = 24.4h and 24.2h, respectively. These oscillations correspond to an endogenous circadian discharge of the caudal photoreceptor that is enhanced by light. The importance of this rhythm in the adaptive behavior of crayfish is discussed. (Chronobiology International, 18(5), 759–765, 2001)