JN AJP: Endocrinology and Metabolism
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


J Neurophysiol (September 3, 2008). doi:10.1152/jn.90759.2008
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
100/5/2496    most recent
90759.2008v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in 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 Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Crow, T. J.
Right arrow Articles by Tian, L.-M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Crow, T. J.
Right arrow Articles by Tian, L.-M.
Submitted on July 11, 2008
Revised on August 26, 2008
Accepted on August 29, 2008

Sensory Regulation of Network Components Underlying Ciliary Locomotion in Hermissenda

Terry J. Crow1* and Lian-Ming Tian2

1 University of Texas Medical School - Houston
2 Univ TX med sch

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: terry.crow{at}uth.tmc.edu.

Ciliary locomotion in the nudibranch mollusk Hermissenda is modulated by the visual and graviceptive systems. Components of the neural network mediating ciliary locomotion have been identified including aggregates of polysensory interneurons that receive monosynaptic input from identified photoreceptors and efferent neurons that innervate ciliary activity. Illumination produces an inhibition of type Ii (off-cell) spike activity, excitation of type Ie (on-cell) spike activity, decreased spike activity in type IIIi inhibitory interneurons, and increased spike activity of ciliary efferent neurons. Here we show that pairs of type Ii interneurons and pairs of type Ie interneurons are electrically coupled. Neither electrical coupling or synaptic connections were observed between Ie and Ii interneurons. Coupling is effective in synchronizing dark adapted spontaneous firing between pairs of Ie and pairs of Ii interneurons. Out-of-phase burst activity occasionally observed in dark adapted and light adapted pairs of Ie and Ii interneurons suggest that they receive synaptic input from a common presynaptic source or sources. Rhythmic activity is typically not a characteristic of either dark adapted, light adapted, or light evoked firing of type I interneurons. However, burst activity in Ie and Ii interneurons may be elicited by electrical stimulation of pedal nerves or generated at the offset of light. Our results indicate that type I interneurons can support the generation of both rhythmic activity and changes in tonic firing depending upon sensory input. This suggests that the neural network supporting ciliary locomotion may be multifunctional. However, consistent with the nonmuscular and nonrhythmic characteristics of visually modulated ciliary locomotion, type I interneurons exhibit changes in tonic activity evoked by illumination.







HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Visit Other APS Journals Online
Copyright © 2008 by the The American Physiological Society.