Role of visual and non-visual opsins in blue light-induced neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster

Authors: Piacenti-Silva M, de Mattos AS, Zaparoli HH, de Oliveira M, Morimoto J, Zilli Vieira CL

Year: 2025

Category: Neuroscience

Journal: Frontiers in Public Health

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1644780

URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1644780

Abstract

Introduction

Light plays a key role in regulating circadian rhythms and downstream physiological and behavioural functions. However, excessive exposure to artificial blue light (450-500 nm) can disrupt sleep, metabolism and neural integrity. Visual opsins mediate light-dependent signalling, but organisms also express non-visual opsins whose roles in blue-light-induced neural stress are not well understood.

Methods

  • Drosophila melanogaster knockout lines lacking either visual rhodopsin 1 (Rh11) or non-visual rhodopsin 7 (Rh71), along with wild-type (w1118) controls, were used.
  • Flies were continuously exposed to 488 nm blue light (1,320 lux; 1,120 μW/cm2) from egg deposition until 20 days old.
  • DNA damage (γ-H2Av immunostaining) and vacuole formation were quantified in brain regions related to sensory processing and neurotransmission.

Results

  • Rh11 flies exhibited the highest levels of DNA damage and vacuolisation compared to w1118 and Rh71 lines.
  • Effects were most pronounced in neuropils linked to sensory integration and synaptic activity.

Discussion & Conclusion

Findings demonstrate that the visual opsin Rh1 plays a predominant role in blue-light-induced DNA damage and neurodegeneration in the Drosophila central nervous system.
This suggests visual, rather than non-visual, opsins mediate the neurotoxic effects of artificial light exposure, highlighting a direct link between electromagnetic field exposure from blue light and neural health risk.

blue light neurodegeneration Drosophila melanogaster opsins DNA damage circadian rhythms artificial light exposure
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