Cone synaptic ribbons and retinomotor changes in the brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Salmonidae, Teleostei), under various experimental conditions
Cone synaptic ribbons in the brook trout were studied and compared with retinomotor responses during a normal 24-h cycle and during 72 h of constant light or darkness. There is a reduction of synaptic ribbons to 65% of the daytime value during a normal night. In the absence of light stimuli, retinomotor movements cease after 20–30 h, whereas rhythmic oscillations of synaptic ribbons, although dampened, persist until the 3rd day. It appears that in the brook trout, which is an arhythmic fish, there is no endogenous control of retinomotor responses and only very little control of synaptic ribbons. The significance of synaptic ribbons for synaptic transmission and of their involvement in endogenous circadian rhythms is discussed.