Fig. 9

drish−/− mutant larvae exhibit impaired light-induced locomotor activity while touch-evoked escape response is unaffected. (A–D) Light-induced and dark-induced swimming activity analysis performed using 5 dpf larvae. (A) Schematic of lights on/ off swimming assay. (B) The total distance moved throughout the assay (duration: 20 min) was similar between drish+/+ and drish−/− mutant larvae. NS, not significant, Student's t-test. (C) Total distance moved in response to light stimuli (duration: 1 min) was significantly reduced in drish−/− mutants compared to drish+/+ larvae (**p < 0.001, Student's t-test). (D) The total distance moved in response to dark stimuli (duration: 1 min) was similar between drish−/− mutants and drish+/+ larvae. n = 48 for drish+/+ and drish−/− larvae. NS, not significant, Student's t-test. (E, F) Touch response assay using 2 dpf embryos. Touch-evoked escape response following a single touch to either the head (E) or the trunk (F) was compared between drish+/+ and drish−/− mutant embryos. Responses were divided into three categories: No response (no movement after touch), Weak response (subtle movement with larva remaining within the field of view), and Strong response (rapid movement with larva exiting the field of view). Drish−/− mutants responded similarly to control drish+/+ larvae when touched in the head or the trunk. Data pooled from four experiments, n = 61 for drish+/+ and n = 62 for drish−/− embryos, NS, not significant, Chi-square test.