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

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.

1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-322
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE

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.


1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-454
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE ◽  
D. S. SMITH

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.


1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-746
Author(s):  
J. E. TREHERNE

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.


1960 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 500-512
Author(s):  
V. B. WIGGLESWORTH

1. The histology of the last abdominal ganglion and the cercal nerves and connectives of the cockroach are briefly described. Attention is called to the large cavities, termed the ‘glial lacunar system’, that are present in the glial cell layer of the ganglion; and to the branching filaments of collagen-like material which are laid down within the glial membranes and trabeculae of the ganglia and nerves. 2. Glycogen is stored in large amounts in the perineurium cells, and in small amounts in the interaxonal glial membranes in the neuropile and nerves. Invaginations of the plasma membrane of the large ganglion cells (the ‘trophospongium’) are apparently concerned in the transfer of glycogen. Invaginations and glycogen deposits increase progressively towards the base of the axon. 3. Very small amounts of triglycerides are stored in the ganglion. There are traces only in the perineurium cells; rather more in the glial cells. The invaginations of the glial cells into the large ganglion cells seem to be concerned also in the transfer of lipids to the neurones.


1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 987-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Lukowiak

In older Aplysia, the central nervous system (CNS) (abdominal ganglion) exerts suppressive and facilitatory control over the peripheral nervous system (PNS) which initially mediates the gill withdrawal reflex and its subsequent habituation evoked by tactile stimulation of the siphon. In young animals, both the suppressive and facilitatory CNS control were found to be absent. In older animals, removal of branchial nerve (Br) input to the gill resulted in a significantly reduced reflex latency and, with ctenidial (Ct) and siphon (Sn) nerves intact, a significantly increased reflex amplitude and an inability of the reflex to habituate with repeated siphon stimulation. In young animals, removal of Br had no effect on reflex latency and with Ct and Sn intact, the reflex amplitude latency was not increased and the reflex habituated. Older animals can easily discriminate between different intensity stimuli applied to the siphon as evidenced by differences in reflex amplitude, rates of habituation, and evoked neural activity. On the other hand, young animals cannot discriminate well between different stimulus intensities. The lack of CNS control in young animals was found to be due to incompletely developed neural processes within the abdominal ganglion and not the PNS. The lack of CNS control in young Aplysia results in gill reflex behaviours being less adaptive in light of changing stimulus conditions, but may be of positive survival value in that the young will not habituate as easily. The fact that CNS control is present in older animals strengthens the idea that in any analysis of the underlying neural mechanisms of habituation the entire integrated CNS–PNS must be taken into account.


1962 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-324
Author(s):  
K. G. DAVEY

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.


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