The origin of the Drosophila subretinal pigment layer

Optical insulation plays a critical role in the fine visual acuity of the Drosophila compound eye. Screening pigments expressed by a number of cell types contribute to this phenomenon. They provide optical insulation that prevents extraneous light rays from inappropriately activating the photoreceptors. This optical insulation can be divided into two categories; the insulation of the individual ommatidia, and the insulation of the compound eye as a whole. The whole-eye insulation is provided by two sources. The sides of the eye are optically insulated by the pigment rim, a band of pigment cells that circumscribes the eye. The base of the eye is insulated by the subretinal pigment layer; a thick layer of pigment that lies directly underneath the retina. How this subretinal pigment layer is generated has not been clearly described. Here, experiments that manipulate pigment expression during eye development suggest that the subretinal pigment layer is directly derived from pigment cells in the overlying retina.