Sodium and Potassium Fluxes in the Abdominal Nerve Cord of the Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana L

1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-322
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Potassium Ions ◽  
Sodium Ions ◽  
Nerve Sheath ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Sodium And Potassium

1. The influx of sodium and potassium ions into the central nervous system of Periplaneta americana has been studied by measuring the increase in radioactivity within the abdominal nerve cord following the injection of 24NA and 42K. into the haemolymph. 2. The calculated influx of sodium ions was approximately 320 mM./l. of nerve cord water/hr. and of potassium ions was 312 mM./l. of nerve cord water/hr. These values are very approximately equivalent to an influx per unit area of nerve cord surface of 13.9 x 10-2 M cm. -2 sec.-1 for sodium and 13.5 x 10-12 M cm. -2 sec.-1 for potassium ions. 3. The relatively rapid influxes of these ions are discussed in relation to the postulated function of the nerve sheath as a diffusion barrier. It is suggested that a dynamic steady state rather than a static impermeability must exist across the sheath surrounding the central nervous system in this insect.

The Metabolism of Acetylcholine in the Intact Central Nervous System of An Insect (Periplaneta Americana L.)

1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-454
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE ◽  
D. S. SMITH
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Cholinergic System ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Extracellular Fluid ◽  
Fibrous Layer ◽  
Nerve Sheath ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Hydrolysis Of

1. A very rapid metabolism of 3H-labelled acetylcholine has been demonstrated in the intact abdominal nerve cord. It has been shown that the cholinesterase system is effective in drastically reducing the concentration of acetylcholine in the extracellular fluid of the terminal abdominal ganglion with bathing solutions of up to IO-2M acetylcholine. 2. Evidence has been obtained which indicates that an appreciable hydrolysis of acetylcholine occurs at the periphery of the nerve cord. This effect is correlated with the electronmicroscopic demonstration of regions of eserine-sensitive cholinesterase located on glial membranes in the periphery of ganglia and connectives. It is suggested that some hydrolysis of extraneous acetylcholine may occur in the fibrous layer of the nerve sheath as a result of an accumulation of diffusible acetylcholinesterase in this region. 3. The results are discussed in relation to the possible involvement of the conventional cholinergic system in synaptic transmission in the central nervous system of this insect.

An electrophysiological analysis of extra-axonal sodium and potassium concentrations in the central nervous system of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana L.)

1975 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 801-811
Author(s):  
M. V. Thomas ◽  
J. E. Treherne
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Sodium Concentration ◽  
Blood Potassium ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Sucrose Gap ◽  
Sodium And Potassium

Simultaneous intracellular and sucrose-gap recordings showed, in contrast to previous findings, that the electrical parameters of giant axons were similar to intact and desheathed connectives bathed with the ‘extracellular Ringer’ of Yamasaki & Narahashi. This implies that the extra-axonal sodium concentration, in situ, is likely to be lower than had been previously supposed. Axonal responses showed that, despite the high blood concentration of 24–2 mM-K+ measured by flame photometry, the effective concentration in the blood was 10–15 mM-K+ which corresponds to the measurements made with potassium-selective electrodes. The activity of the blood potassium ions caused a marked reduction in the amplitude of the action potentials following surgical desheathing or disruption of the blood-brain barrier with hypertonic urea. It is suggested that a regulatory mechanism exists in the central nervous system which counteracts the effects of the high blood potassium level.

The Kinetics of Sodium Transfer in the Central Nervous System of the Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana L

1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-746
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Slow Phase ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Sodium Ions ◽  
Rapid Phase ◽  
Fast Phase ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Sodium Extrusion

1. The exchange of sodium ions in the cockroach central nervous system has been studied by following the escape of 24Na from isolated abdominal nerve cords, single connectives and ganglia. Particular attention was paid to the initial rapid exchanges of sodium. 2. The escape of sodium ions occurred as a two-stage process, an initial rapid phase eventually giving way to a slower exponential phase of sodium loss. The fast phase of efflux was not affected by the presence of 2:4-dinitrophenol, although this poison significantly reduced the second slow phase of sodium extrusion. 3. The initial fast phase is attributed to a rapid diffusion from an extracellular space, demonstrated by 14C-inulin; the second phase is identified as the slower extrusion from the cellular components of the central nervous system.

The Nutrition of the Central Nervous System in the Cockroach Periplaneta Americana L

1960 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 513-533
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
14Co2 Production

1. 14C-labelled glucose injected into the cockroach was found to be rapidly converted to trehalose, only small amounts remaining in equilibrium with the disaccharide in the haemolymph. The entry of these sugars into the cockroach central nervous system was studied by following the increase in radioactivity within the abdominal nerve cord after the injection of radioactive glucose into the haemolymph. 2. The levels of radioactivity increased at closely similar rates in different parts of the abdominal nerve cord. 3. The influx of sugars into the nerve cord was calculated to be equivalent to 1.09 mM. glucose/l. of nerve cord water/min. 4. The greater part of the 14C entering the nerve cord originated from the trehalose, only about 7% being derived from the small amount of glucose in the haemolymph. The movement of the relatively small number of glucose molecules into the nerve cord occurred, nevertheless, at approximately 2.5 times the rate of the larger trehalose molecules. 5. Chromatographic analysis revealed that more than half of the absorbed 14C was incorporated as glutamic acid and glutamine in the nerve cord. Smaller amounts of glycogen, trehalose, glucose, aspartic acid and occasional traces of alanine were found. In the isolated nerve cord substantial amounts of alanine accumulated, the formation of the other amino acids being reduced. 14CO2 production in vitro was found, after 1 hr., to represent only about 1% of the total activity within the nerve cord. 6. The results demonstrate a linkage of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism and represent circumstantial evidence for the presence of the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes in the central nervous system of this insect.

The Efflux of Sodium Ions from the Last Abdominal Ganglion of the Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana L

1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 729-736
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Physiological Solution ◽  
Abdominal Ganglion ◽  
Sodium Ions ◽  
Free Solution ◽  
Sodium Efflux ◽  
Nerve Sheath ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Rate Limiting

1. The rate of loss of 24Na from the terminal abdominal ganglion of Periplaneta americana L. has been studied by measuring the decline in radioactivity associated with an isolated preparation maintained in flowing physiological solution. 2. The rate of sodium efflux was substantially reduced in the presence Of 0.2 mM./l. dinitrophenol and in potassium-free solution. 3. The extrusion of 24Na was not significantly affected by the removal of the fibrous and cellular sheath surrounding the ganglion. The rate-limiting process in the efflux of sodium measured in the experiments was not, therefore, the transfer of ions across the nerve sheath, but an extrusion from tissues lying at a deeper level in the central nervous system.

scholarly journals THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC LOCALIZATION OF CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF AN INSECT, PERIPLANET A AMERICANAL.

1965 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Smith ◽  
J. E. Treherne
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Esterase Activity ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Cholinesterase Activity ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Electron Microscopic Localization

The distribution of esterase activity in the last abdominal ganglion, the connectives and the cereal nerves of the cockroach Periplaneta americana has been investigated cytochemically. Activity of an unspecific eserine-insensitive esterase (or esterases) has been found in glial elements in these regions of the nerve cord. In addition, sites of cholinesterase (eserine-sensitive) activity have been found in association with (a) the glial sheaths of the axons in the cereal nerves and connectives, (b) the glial folds encapsulating the neuron perikarya in the ganglion, and (c) in localized areas along the membranes of axon branches within the neuropile, often flanked by focal clusters of synaptic vesicles. These results are discussed with particular reference to the previously reported insensitivity of the insect nerve cord to applied acetylcholine, and to the probable existence of a cholinergic synaptic mechanism in the central nervous system of this insect.

The Larval Eclosion Hormone Neurones in Manduca Sexta: Identification of the Brain-Proctodeal Neurosecretory System

1989 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 457-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES W. TRUMAN ◽  
PHILIP F. COPENHAVER
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Manduca Sexta ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Release Site ◽  
Neurosecretory System ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Eclosion Hormone ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

Larval and pupal ecdyses of the moth Manduca sexta are triggered by eclosion hormone (EH) released from the ventral nervous system. The major store of EH activity in the latter resides in the proctodeal nerves that extend along the larval hindgut. At pupal ecdysis, the proctodeal nerves show a 90% depletion of stored activity, suggesting that they are the major release site for the circulating EH that causes ecdysis. Surgical experiments involving the transection of the nerve cord or removal of parts of the brain showed that the proctodeal nerve activity originates from the brain. Retrograde and anterograde cobalt fills and immunocytochemistry using antibodies against EH revealed two pairs of neurons that reside in the ventromedial region of the brain and whose axons travel ipsilaterally along the length of the central nervous system (CNS) and project into the proctodeal nerve, where they show varicose release sites. These neurons constitute a novel neuroendocrine pathway in insects which appears to be dedicated solely to the release of EH.

The Mode of Action of the Corpus Cardiacum on the Hind Gut in Periplaneta Americana

1962 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-324
Author(s):  
K. G. DAVEY
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Peripheral Nervous System ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Periplaneta Americana ◽  
Corpus Cardiacum ◽  
Corpora Cardiaca ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Hind Gut

1. Addition of a homogenate of corpora cardiaca to the fluid bathing an isolated hind gut of Periplaneta produces an increase in tonus, amplitude, frequency and co-ordination of contractions. 2. The corpus cardiacum acts by stimulating cells in the upper colon to release an indolalkylamine. 3. This amine acts on the mucles through a peripheral nervous system which can function in isolation from the central nervous system.

The Giant Nerve-Fibres in the Central Nervous System of Myxicola (Polychaeta, Sabellidae)

1948 ◽  
Vol s3-89 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-45
Author(s):  
J.A. C. NICOL
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Nerve Cord ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Nerve Cells ◽  
The Body ◽  
Usual Sense ◽  
Fibrous Sheath ◽  
Giant Fibre ◽  
The Central Nervous System

1. A description is given of the main features of the central nervous system of Myxicola infundibulum Rénier. 2. The nerve-cord is double in the first four thoracic segments and single posteriorly. It shows segmental swellings but is not ganglionated in the usual sense in that nerve-cell accumulations are not related directly to such swellings of the cord. 3. A very large axon lies within the dorsal portion of the nerve-cord and extends from the supra-oesophageal ganglia to the posterior end of the animal. It is small in the head ganglia where it passes transversely across the mid-line, increases in diameter in the oesophageal connectives, and expands to very large size, up to 1 mm., in the posterior thorax and anterior abdomen, and gradually tapers off to about 100µ in the posterior body. It shows segmental swellings corresponding to those of the nerve-cord in each segment. It occupies about 27 per cent, of the volume of the central nervous system and 0.3 per cent, of the volume of the animal. The diameter of the fibre increases during contraction of the worm. 4. The giant fibre is a continuous structure throughout its length, without internal dividing membranes or septa. Usually a branch of the giant fibre lies in each half of the nerve-cord in the anterior thoracic segments and these several branches are continuous with one another longitudinally and transversely. 5. The giant fibre is connected with nerve-cells along its entire course; it arises from a pair of cells in the supra-oesophageal ganglia, and receives the processes of many nerve-cells in each segment. There is no difference between the nerve-cells of the giant fibre and the other nerve-cells of the cord. 6. A distinct fibrous sheath invests the giant fibre. A slight concentration of lipoid can be revealed in this sheath by the use of Sudan black. 7. About eight peripheral branches arise from the giant fibre in each segment. They have a complex course in the nerve-cord where they anastomose with one another and receive the processes of nerve-cells. Peripherally, they are distributed to the longitudinal musculature. 8. Specimens surviving 16 days following section of the nerve-cord in the thorax have shown that the giant fibre does not degenerate in front of or behind a cut, thus confirming that it is a multicellular structure connected to nerve-cells in the thorax and abdomen. 9. It is concluded that the giant fibre of M. infundibulum is a large syncytial structure, extending throughout the entire central nervous system and the body-wall of the animal. 10. The giant fibre system of M. aesthetica resembles that of M. infundibulum. 11. Some implications of the possession of such a giant axon are discussed. It is suggested that its size, structure, and simplicity lead to rapid conduction and thus effect a considerable saving of reaction time, of considerable value to the species when considered in the light of the quick contraction which it mediates. The adoption of a sedentary mode of existence has permitted this portion of the central nervous system to become developed at the expense of other elements concerned with errant habits.

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