Light deprivation affects larval development and arrestin gene expression in Anopheles stephensi

The role of light exposure on the final stages of development of Anopheles stephensi larvae to pupae and adult mosquitoes was explored. We demonstrated a significant reduction in the development of adult mosquitoes when larvae were bred in the absence of light compared with the control group bred in alternating 12 h of light and 12 h of dark. To correlate these findings at the molecular level, RNA levels of the visual arrestin gene were examined. Arrestins are an important gene family that play a role in the vectorial capacity of Anopheles and mediate neurotransmission as well as olfactory and visual sensory reception in insects. Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction showed a reduction in the expression of the visual arrestin gene in pupae that developed from larvae in the absence of light compared with larvae bred under normal conditions.