We experimentally measured the birefringence of a liquid single crystal elastomer (LSCE) swollen with a low molecular weight liquid crystal (LMWLC), 5CB, by polarizing microscopy as a function of temperature. The optical intensity of swollen LSCE shows significant intensity changes at temperatures T-NI, T-A and T-B that indicates a variety of different transitions. A temperature TNI is known as the apparent nematic-isotropic transition for outside LMWLC, TA and TB are interpreted as the nematic-isotropic transition for LMWLC inside the LSCE and for the swollen LSCE, respectively. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.