The Pedal Neurons of Aplysia Punctata

1968 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-140
Author(s):  
D. A. DORSETT

1. Three classes of neurons have been identified in the pedal ganglia of Aplysia punctata. 2. The motor neurons, which may be unipolar or bipolar, have the axon passing into one of the pedal nerves and in the case of the bipolars, the other branch entering the pedal commissure. This synapses with neurons on the opposite side, thus providing an integrative link between the ganglia. 3. The interneurons are without axons in the pedal nerves or commissure, although afferent pathways to these cells and the motor neurons occur in the pedal nerves in a variety of combinations. 4. The pathways in the ipsilateral nerves are for the most part excitatory, but inhibitory fibres occur in the posterior pedal nerve. 5. Inhibitory potentials were often obtained in the interneurons by stimulation of the pedal commissure. 6. A second type of coordinative pathway is provided by fibres which enter the CNS in one of the pedal nerves and terminate on neurons in both pedal ganglia.

It was shown in an earlier paper (7) that if maximal stimulation of either of two different afferent nerves can reflexly excite fractions of a given flexor muscle, there are generally, within the aggregate of neurones which innervate that muscle, motoneurones which can be caused to discharge by either afferent (i. e., motoneurones common to both fractions). The relationship which two such afferents bear to a common motoneurone was shown, by the isometric method of recording contraction, to be such that the activation of one afferent, at a speed sufficient to cause a maximal motor tetanus when trans­mitted to the muscle fibres, caused exclusion of any added mechanical effect when the other afferent was excited concurrently. This default in mechanical effect was called “occlusion.” Occlusion may conceivably be due to total exclusion of the effect of one afferent pathway on the common motoneurone by the activity of the other; but facilitation of the effect of one path by the activation of the other when the stimuli were minimal suggests that, in some circumstances at least, the effect of each could augment and summate with th at of the other at the place of convergence of two afferent pathways. Further investigation, using the action currents of the muscle as indication of the nerve impulses discharged by the motoneurone units, has now given some information regarding the effect of impulses arriving at the locus of convergence by one afferent path when the unit common to both is already discharging in response to impulses arriving by the other afferent path. Our method has been to excite both afferent nerves in overlapping sequence by series of break shocks at a rapid rate and to examine the action currents of the resulting reflex for evidence of the appearance of the rhythm of the second series in the discharge caused by the first when the two series are both reaching the motoneurone.


1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustav Wägar

ABSTRACT Whether the short-term regulation of thyroidal protein synthesis by TSH occurs at the transcriptional or the translational level was tested by measuring the effect of actinomycin D (act D) on the TSH-induced stimulation of L-14C-leucine incorporation into the thyroidal proteins of rats. TSH was injected 6 h before the rats were killed. The thyroid glands were then removed and incubated in vitro in the presence of L-14C-leucine for 2 h. The pronounced stimulation of leucine incorporation in the TSH-treated animals was depressed as compared with controls but still significant even when the animals had been pre-treated with 100 μg act D 24 and 7 h before sacrifice. On the other hand, act D strongly decreased incorporation of 3H-uridine into RNA. Short-term regulation of thyroidal protein synthesis by TSH appears to be partly but not wholly dependent on neosynthesis of RNA. Hence regulation may partly occur at the translation level of protein synthesis.


1993 ◽  
Vol 289 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Roche ◽  
J P Bali ◽  
R Magous

The mechanism whereby gastrin-type receptor and muscarinic M3-type receptor regulate free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was studied in rabbit gastric parietal cells stimulated by either gastrin or carbachol. Both agonists induced a biphasic [Ca2+]i response: a transient [Ca2+]i rise, followed by a sustained steady state depending on extracellular Ca2+. Gastrin and carbachol also caused a rapid and transient increase in Mn2+ influx (a tracer for bivalent-cation entry). Pre-stimulation of cells with one agonist drastically decreased both [Ca2+]i increase and Mn2+ influx induced by the other. Neither diltiazem nor pertussistoxin treatment had any effect on agonist-stimulated Mn2+ entry. Thapsigargin, a Ca(2+)-pump inhibitor, induced a biphasic [Ca2+]i increase, and enhanced the rate of Mn2+ entry. Preincubation of cells with thapsigargin inhibits the [Ca2+]i increase as well as Mn2+ entry stimulated by gastrin or by carbachol. Thapsigargin induced a weak but significant increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 content, but this agent had no effect on the agonist-evoked Ins(1,4,5)P3 response. In permeabilized parietal cells, Ins(1,4,5)P3 and caffeine caused an immediate Ca2+ release from intracellular pools, followed by a reloading of Ca2+ pools which can be prevented in the presence of thapsigargin. We conclude that (i) gastrin and carbachol mobilize common Ca2+ intracellular stores, (ii) Ca2+ permeability secondary to receptor activation involves neither a voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel nor a GTP-binding protein from the G1 family, and (iii) agonists regulate common Ca2+ channels in depleting intracellular Ca2+ stores.


1984 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Russell ◽  
D. K. Hartline

The properties of neurons in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) participating in the pattern generator for the gastric mill rhythm were studied by intracellular current injection under several conditions: during ongoing gastric rhythms, in the nonrhythmic isolated STG, after stimulation of the nerve carrying central nervous system (CNS) inputs to the STG, or under Ba2+ or Sr2+. Slow regenerative depolarizations during ongoing rhythms were demonstrated in the anterior median, cardiopyloric, lateral cardiac, gastropyloric, and continuous inhibitor (AM, CP, LC, GP, and CI) neurons according to criteria such as voltage dependency, burst triggering, and termination by brief current pulses, etc. Experiments showed that regenerative-like behavior was not due to synaptic network interactions. The slow regenerative responses were abolished by isolating the stomatogastric ganglion but could be reestablished by stimulating the input nerve. This indicates that certain CNS inputs synaptically induce the regenerative property in specific gastric neurons. Slow regenerative depolarizations were not demonstrable in gastric mill (GM) motor neurons. Their burst oscillations and firing rate were instead proportional to injected current. CNS inputs evoked a prolonged depolarization in GM motor neurons, apparently by a nonregenerative mechanism. All the gastric cells showed prolonged regenerative potentials under 0.5-1.5 mM Ba2+. We conclude that the gastric neurons of the STG can be divided into three types according to their properties: those with a regenerative capability, a repetitively firing type, and a nonregenerative "proportional" type. The cells are strongly influenced by several types of CNS inputs, including "gastric command fibers."


1922 ◽  
Vol 26 (140) ◽  
pp. 325-330
Author(s):  
S. Heckstall Smith

If the thought of another war troubles you, then don't read this article. If you would rather say to yourself as the Secretary of State said to the Air Conference, “ There won't be another war for ten years, so why worry? ” then no doubt you will think with him that it is better to let other nations have alk the bother and expense of trying to advance; after all, we are jolly fine fellows and can soon pick up. If, on the other hand, you have imagination which gives you a nasty queasy sensation when you think of what might be, then perhaps the following notes, albeit disjointed and mostly stale, may at least conjure up in you thoughts of your own on the subject. This is all that is needed to help, our advancement in the air–the stimulation of spoken and written thoughts by the British nation, for if every taxpayer in the British Empire says “ Air Force,” then the Press and Parliament will say it too.


Neurosurgery ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumio Shima ◽  
Takato Morioka ◽  
Shozo Tobimatsu ◽  
Omiros Kavaklis ◽  
Motohiro Kato ◽  
...  

Abstract To improve the localization of stereotactic targets, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded from the thalamus and subthalamic area using a specially designed semimicroelectrode in 61 patients and a conventional “macroclectrode” in 17 patients. By means of the semimicroelectrode, median nerve stimulation evoked two distinct SEPs, consisting of a diphasic wave with a huge positivity restricted to the nucleus ventrocaudalis (Vc) and a triphasic wave of lower amplitude with a major negativity in the ventral part of the nucleus ventrointermedius (Vim) and nucleus ventrooralis posterior (Vop) as well as the subthalamic lemniscal pathway. The Vim-Vc junction could thus be clearly delineated by an abrupt transition of SEPs from one type to the other with a precision of 1 mm. The parvicellular part of the Vc (Vcpc). situated in its basal region, was distinguishable from the Vc proper by a significant reduction of the positivity elicited by stimulation of the median nerve and by a rapid growth of a diphasic SEPs to stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve. In the other thalamic nuclei, stimulation of the median nerve elicited triphasic SEPs of a very small amplitude, suggesting a volume conduction current from the lemniscal pathway. With the macroclectrode, the positivity in the Vc was sensitive to electrode manipulation and the thalamic nuclei could not be distinctly outlined. SEP monitoring using the semimicroelectrode significantly improved the precision of target localization, which allowed minimizing of the volume of the therapeutic lesion without losing surgical effectiveness, while avoiding complications associated with increased penetration of the coagulating electrode. It is suggested that recording serial thalamic SEPs with the semimicroelectrode is a practical method to refine stereotactic targets in the thalamus.


1970 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-175
Author(s):  
P. J. MILL

1. Rhythmic bursts of motor activity associated with the expiratory phase of ventilation have been recorded from the second lateral segmental nerves of posterior abdominal ganglia in Aeshna and Anax larvae. 2. In Aeshna the rhythmic expiratory bursts contain one, or sometimes two, motor units; whereas in Anax there are almost invariably three units. In both animals only one unit is associated with action potentials in the respiratory dorso-ventral muscle. 3. Motor activity synchronized with the expiratory bursts in the second nerves has been recorded from the other lateral nerves and from the last unpaired nerve. In addition the fifth lateral nerves carry inspiratory bursts. 4. It has been confirmed that stimulation of a first segmental nerve can re-set the ventilatory rhythm by initiating an expiratory burst in the second nerves. The original frequency is immediately resumed on cessation of stimulation. 5. The nature of the ventilatory control system in dragonfly larvae is discussed in relation to other rhythmic systems in the arthropods.


2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-445
Author(s):  
M. Wildman

The position of the coxal segment of the locust hind leg relative to the thorax is monitored by a variety of proprioceptors, including three chordotonal organs and a myochordotonal organ. The sensory neurons of two of these proprioceptors, the posterior joint chordotonal organ (pjCO) and the myochordotonal organ (MCO), have axons in the purely sensory metathoracic nerve 2C (N2C). The connections made by these afferents with metathoracic motor neurons innervating thoraco-coxal and wing muscles were investigated by electrical stimulation of N2C and by matching postsynaptic potentials in motor neurons with afferent spikes in N2C. Stretch applied to the anterior rotator muscle of the coxa (M121), with which the MCO is associated, evoked sensory spikes in N2C. Some of the MCO afferent neurons make direct excitatory chemical synaptic connections with motor neurons innervating the thoraco-coxal muscles M121, M126 and M125. Parallel polysynaptic pathways via unidentified interneurons also exist between MCO afferents and these motor neurons. Connections with the common inhibitor 1 neuron and motor neurons innervating the thoraco-coxal muscles M123/4 and wing muscles M113 and M127 are polysynaptic. Afferents of the pjCO also make polysynaptic connections with motor neurons innervating thoraco-coxal and wing muscles, but no evidence for monosynaptic pathways was found.


1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-78
Author(s):  
D. M. MAYNARD ◽  
M. J. COHEN

1. The effects of electrical and mechanical stimulation upon a ‘naturally occurring’ heteromorph appendage growing in place of one eyestalk in Panulirus argus were examined. The heteromorph resembled the outer flagellum of the antennule in form. 2. Heteromorph stimulation elicited both a generalized withdrawal response, and a specific depression of the third segment and flagellum of the ipsilateral antennule. Such a depression response was also elicited upon stimulation of the ipsilateral outer flagellum of the normal antennule and by no other input investigated. 3. The basic similarity of the two responses was confirmed by electromyography and by intracellular recordings from motor neurons and interneurons within the lobster brain. 4. It was concluded that at least one afferent fibre component from the heteromorph and normal flagellum terminated upon the same interneuron pools, while avoiding others, and that consequently these observations provide evidence for the formation of functional inter-neuronal connexions according to type specificity.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document