Many marine species can regulate the intensity of bioluminescence from their ventral photophores in order to counterilluminate, a camouflage technique whereby animals closely match the intensity of the downwelling illumination blocked by their bodies, thereby hiding their silhouettes. Recent studies on autogenic cuticular photophores in deep-sea shrimps indicate that the photophores themselves are light sensitive. Here, our results suggest photosensitivity in a second type of autogenic photophore, the internal organs of Pesta, found in deep-sea sergestid shrimps. Experiments were conducted onboard ship on live specimens, exposing the animals to bright light, which resulted in ultrastructural changes that matched those seen in crustacean eyes during the photoreceptor membrane turnover, a process that is crucial for the proper functioning of photosensitive components. In addition, RNA-seq studies demonstrated the expression of visual opsins and phototransduction genes in photophore tissue that are known to play a role in light detection, and electrophysiological measurements indicated that the light organs are responding to light received by the eyes. The long sought after mechanism of counterillumination remains unknown, but evidence of photosensitivity in photophores may indicate a dual functionality of light detection and emission.

许多海洋物种可以调节腹侧发光体发出的生物发光强度，以进行反照明，这是一种伪装技术，动物可以通过这种技术与身体阻挡的下降流照明的强度紧密匹配，从而隐藏它们的轮廓。最近对深海虾自生角质层发光体的研究表明，发光体本身对光敏感。在这里，我们的结果表明第二种类型的自生发光体（在深海虾中发现的 Pesta 内脏器官）具有光敏性。实验是在船上对活体标本进行的，将动物暴露在强光下，从而导致超微结构的变化，与甲壳类动物眼睛在光感受器膜周转过程中看到的变化相匹配，这一过程对于光敏成分的正常运作至关重要。此外，RNA-seq研究证明了发光组织中视觉视蛋白和光转导基因的表达，这些基因在光检测中发挥着作用，而电生理测量表明，光器官对眼睛接收到的光做出反应。长期以来备受追捧的反照明机制仍然未知，但发光体光敏性的证据可能表明光检测和发射的双重功能。