JN Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Neurophysiol 83: 1315-1328, 2000;
0022-3077/00 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Matzner, H.
Right arrow Articles by Hochner, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Matzner, H.
Right arrow Articles by Hochner, B.

The Journal of Neurophysiology Vol. 83 No. 3 March 2000, pp. 1315-1328
Copyright ©2000 by the American Physiological Society

Neuromuscular System of the Flexible Arm of the Octopus: Physiological Characterization

Henry Matzner, Yoram Gutfreund, and Binyamin Hochner

Department of Neurobiology and Center for Neuronal Computation, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel

Matzner, Henry, Yoram Gutfreund, and Binyamin Hochner. Neuromuscular System of the Flexible Arm of the Octopus: Physiological Characterization. J. Neurophysiol. 83: 1315-1328, 2000. The octopus arm is an outstanding example of an efficient boneless and highly flexible appendage. We have begun characterizing the neuromuscular system of the octopus arm in both innervated muscle preparations and dissociated muscle cells. Functionally antagonistic longitudinal and transverse muscle fibers showed no differences in membrane properties and mode of innervation. The muscle cells are excitable but have a broad range of linear membrane properties. They are electrotonically very compact so that localized synaptic inputs can control the membrane potential of the entire muscle cell. Three distinct excitatory neuronal inputs to each arm muscle cell were identified; their reversal potentials were extrapolated to be about -10 mV. These appear to be cholinergic as they are blocked by hexamethonium, D-tubocurarine, and atropine. Two inputs have low quantal amplitude (1-7 mV) and slow rise times (4-15 ms), whereas the third has a large size (5-25 mV) and fast rise time (2-4 ms). This large synaptic input is most likely due to exceptionally large quantal events. The probability of release is rather low, suggesting a stochastic activation of muscle cells. All inputs demonstrated a modest activity-dependent plasticity typical of fast neuromuscular systems. The pre- and postsynaptic properties suggest a rather direct relation between neuronal activity and muscle action. The lack of significant electrical coupling between muscle fibers and the indications for the small size of the motor units suggest that the neuromuscular system of the octopus arm has evolved to ensure a high level of precise localization in the neural control of arm function.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
B. Trimmer and J. Issberner
Kinematics of Soft-bodied, Legged Locomotion in Manduca sexta Larvae
Biol. Bull., April 1, 2007; 212(2): 130 - 142.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
Y. Gutfreund, H. Matzner, T. Flash, and B. Hochner
Patterns of Motor Activity in the Isolated Nerve Cord of the Octopus Arm
Biol. Bull., December 1, 2006; 211(3): 212 - 222.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
C. L. Huffard
Locomotion by Abdopus aculeatus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): walking the line between primary and secondary defenses
J. Exp. Biol., October 1, 2006; 209(19): 3697 - 3707.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
Y. Yekutieli, R. Sagiv-Zohar, R. Aharonov, Y. Engel, B. Hochner, and T. Flash
Dynamic Model of the Octopus Arm. I. Biomechanics of the Octopus Reaching Movement
J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2005; 94(2): 1443 - 1458.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
Y. Yekutieli, R. Sagiv-Zohar, B. Hochner, and T. Flash
Dynamic Model of the Octopus Arm. II. Control of Reaching Movements
J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2005; 94(2): 1459 - 1468.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
S. Mezoff, N. Papastathis, A. Takesian, and B. A. Trimmer
The biomechanical and neural control of hydrostatic limb movements in Manduca sexta
J. Exp. Biol., September 1, 2004; 207(17): 3043 - 3053.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
B. Hochner, E. R. Brown, M. Langella, T. Shomrat, and G. Fiorito
A Learning and Memory Area in the Octopus Brain Manifests a Vertebrate-Like Long-Term Potentiation
J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2003; 90(5): 3547 - 3554.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
D. Rokni and B. Hochner
Ionic Currents Underlying Fast Action Potentials in the Obliquely Striated Muscle Cells of the Octopus Arm
J Neurophysiol, December 1, 2002; 88(6): 3386 - 3397.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
D. M. Neustadter, R. F. Drushel, P. E. Crago, B. W. Adams, and H. J. Chiel
A kinematic model of swallowing in Aplysia californica based on radula/odontophore kinematics and in vivo magnetic resonance images
J. Exp. Biol., October 15, 2002; 205(20): 3177 - 3206.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
G. Sumbre, Y. Gutfreund, G. Fiorito, T. Flash, and B. Hochner
Control of Octopus Arm Extension by a Peripheral Motor Program
Science, September 7, 2001; 293(5536): 1845 - 1848.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online