scholarly journals ELECTRICAL RESPONSES FROM THE LATERAL-LINE NERVES OF FISHES

1933 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hudson Hoagland

The spontaneous discharge of impulses from the lateral-line nerves of trout and catfish has been examined. 1. Broken endings of nerve fibers supplying receptors of the lateral-lines of trout and catfish may be the source of a repetitive discharge of nerve impulses. 2. This injury discharge occurs more frequently in trout and may mask the spontaneous discharge from the receptor cells. Experiments indicate that the latter discharge is not the result of injury. 3. The injury discharge ceases in from 10 to 15 minutes. The spontaneous receptor discharge in trout may continue for an hour if the circulation remains intact. The receptor response also fails in from 10 to 15 minutes after failure of the circulation. 4. The receptor discharge, the injury discharge, or the summed discharges frequently become synchronized. The excitability of the fibers of the nerve trunk appears to vary synchronously, so that nerve impulses initiated in fibers from tactile receptors not contributing to the spontaneous discharge can be conducted only during the part of the cycle occupied by the spontaneous discharge.

1961 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Ruck

Dorsal ocelli are small cup-like organs containing a layer of photoreceptor cells, the short axons of which synapse at the base of the cup with dendritic terminals of ocellar nerve fibers. The ocellar ERG of dragonflies, recorded from the surface of the receptor cell layer and from the long lateral ocellar nerve, contains four components. Component 1 is a depolarizing sensory generator potential which originates in the distal ends of the receptor cells and evokes component 2. Component 2 is believed to be a depolarizing response of the receptor axons. It evokes a hyperpolarizing postsynaptic potential, component 3, which originates in the dendritic terminals of the ocellar nerve fibers. Ocellar nerve fibers in dragonflies are spontaneously active, discharging afferent nerve impulses (component 4) in the dark-adapted state. Component 3 inhibits this discharge. The ERG of the cockroach ocellus is similar. The main differences are that component 3 is not as conspicuous as in the dragonflies and that in most cases ocellar nerve impulses appear only as a brief burst at "off." In one preparation a spontaneous discharge of nerve impulses was observed. As in the dragonflies, this was inhibited by illumination.


1961 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Ruck

Large nerve fibers in the ocellar nerves of dragonflies are spontaneously active. In the absence of inhibitory influence the spontaneous activity is rhythmic. Inhibition occurs in the dark-adapted state and during illumination. Miniature inhibitory postsynaptic potentials occur in the dark-adapted state. These modulate by temporary suppression the otherwise rhythmic discharge of ocellar nerve impulses. The presence of random spontaneous receptor cell excitations is inferred from the presence of the miniature i.p.s.p.'s. Light stimulates many or all the receptor cells simultaneously, masking the random spontaneous activity of individual receptor cells. The result is a sustained hyperpolarizing i.p.s.p. and sustained inhibition of the nerve discharge. Preceding resumption of the spontaneous activity at "off" the i.p.s.p. may oscillate, overshoot the baseline as a negative after-potential, or do both. These phases of the off-effect may generate nerve impulses in an off-burst.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 364-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Köppl

Köppl, Christine. Frequency tuning and spontaneous activity in the auditory nerve and cochlear nucleus magnocellularis of the barn owl Tyto alba. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 364–377, 1997. Single-unit recordings were obtained from the brain stem of the barn owl at the level of entrance of the auditory nerve. Auditory nerve and nucleus magnocellularis units were distinguished by physiological criteria, with the use of the response latency to clicks, the spontaneous discharge rate, and the pattern of characteristic frequencies encountered along an electrode track. The response latency to click stimulation decreased in a logarithmic fashion with increasing characteristic frequency for both auditory nerve and nucleus magnocellularis units. The average difference between these populations was 0.4–0.55 ms. The most sensitive thresholds were ∼0 dB SPL and varied little between 0.5 and 9 kHz. Frequency-threshold curves showed the simple V shape that is typical for birds, with no indication of a low-frequency tail. Frequency selectivity increased in a gradual, power-law fashion with increasing characteristic frequency. There was no reflection of the unusual and greatly expanded mapping of higher frequencies on the basilar papilla of the owl. This observation is contrary to the equal-distance hypothesis that relates frequency selectivity to the spatial respresentation in the cochlea. On the basis of spontaneous rates and/or sensitivity there was no evidence for distinct subpopulations of auditory nerve fibers, such as the well-known type I afferent response classes in mammals. On the whole, barn owl auditory nerve physiology conformed entirely to the typical patterns seen in other bird species. The only exception was a remarkably small spread of thresholds at any one frequency, this being only 10–15 dB in individual owls. Average spontaneous rate was 72.2 spikes/s in the auditory nerve and 219.4 spikes/s for nucleus magnocellularis. This large difference, together with the known properties of endbulb-of-Held synapses, suggests a convergence of ∼2–4 auditory nerve fibers onto one nucleus magnocellularis neuron. Some auditory nerve fibers as well as nucleus magnocellularis units showed a quasiperiodic spontaneous discharge with preferred intervals in the time-interval histogram. This phenomenon was observed at frequencies as high as 4.7 kHz.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-148
Author(s):  
Saroj Kumar Ghosh

AbstractCharacteristic features of histology and fine morphology of the olfactory organ in the tank goby, Glossogobius giuris (Perciformes, Gobiidae, Gobiinae), were investigated with light and scanning electron microscopy. The olfactory cavity contained single lamellae that were exposed to the aquatic environment by small anterior and posterior nostrils. Typical olfactory rosettes were not observed. Histologically, each lamella consisted of two layers of epithelium; wrapping the central core that was composed of connective tissue stroma with nerve fibers and blood capillaries. The mucosal lining of lamella was merged with sensory and non-sensory olfactory cells, identified on the basis of structural characters, surface specializations, and staining features. The principal sensory elements were ciliated receptor cells that were characterized by apical dendritic processes expanded from cell soma and microvillous receptor cells equipped with multiple tiny dendrons on the mucosal surface. The bead-like appearance of several labyrinth cells, mucous cells with secreted mucin, scattered lymphatic cells, stratified epithelial cells bearing microfolds, and condensed ciliated supporting cells were observed in the non-sensory epithelia. Undifferentiated basal cells were embedded in the deeper zone of the epithelium above the basement membrane. The cellular organization of the olfactory lining was interpreted with chemoreception of the fish concerned.


eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliot Dow ◽  
Adrian Jacobo ◽  
Sajjad Hossain ◽  
Kimberly Siletti ◽  
A J Hudspeth

The lateral-line neuromast of the zebrafish displays a restricted, consistent pattern of innervation that facilitates the comparison of microcircuits across individuals, developmental stages, and genotypes. We used serial blockface scanning electron microscopy to determine from multiple specimens the neuromast connectome, a comprehensive set of connections between hair cells and afferent and efferent nerve fibers. This analysis delineated a complex but consistent wiring pattern with three striking characteristics: each nerve terminal is highly specific in receiving innervation from hair cells of a single directional sensitivity; the innervation is redundant; and the terminals manifest a hierarchy of dominance. Mutation of the canonical planar-cell-polarity gene vangl2, which decouples the asymmetric phenotypes of sibling hair-cell pairs, results in randomly positioned, randomly oriented sibling cells that nonetheless retain specific wiring. Because larvae that overexpress Notch exhibit uniformly oriented, uniformly innervating hair-cell siblings, wiring specificity is mediated by the Notch signaling pathway.


Author(s):  
Flavio D. Szekut ◽  
Carlos A. V. de Azevedo ◽  
Marcio A. V. Boas ◽  
Thiago Zuculotto

ABSTRACT The operation of drip lateral lines is affected by the topography of the irrigated area and represent, depending on the type of water applied, changes in the discharge characteristics of the emitters. The research had as objective to evaluate the hydraulic performance of built-in labyrinth drippers, non-pressure compensating, with different waters and slopes of the lateral lines. The experiment was carried out on a test bench and consisted of a randomized block design with split-plots: first factor with four types of water, representing the plots: clean water, water with fertilizers, cassava starch wastewater and poultry slaughterhouse wastewater; second factor with slopes of the lateral line, constituting the sub-plots: upslope, level and downslope. The experimental statistics consisted of analysis of variance with subsequent simple-effect analysis and Tukey test at 0.05 probability level to compare the means of dripper flow rates. Quality control statistics was performed using Shewhart’s control charts with interpretations based on upper and lower control limits, as well as non-random pattern recognition. Waters of inferior quality modified the flow rates of the tested drippers regardless of the variation of internal pressure caused by the slope of the lateral line. Water with fertilizer (300 mg L-1) obtained the best conditions of temporal irrigation quality verified by the control charts. Irrigation with poultry slaughterhouse wastewater obtained the same flow rates in all slopes. Cassava starch wastewater caused the lowest flow rates among all the waters.


2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 2963-2971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M. Lang ◽  
Gila Moalem-Taylor ◽  
David J. Tracey ◽  
Hugh Bostock ◽  
Peter Grafe

Activity-dependent fluctuations in axonal excitability and changes in interspike intervals modify the conduction of trains of action potentials in unmyelinated peripheral nerve fibers. During inflammation of a nerve trunk, long stretches of axons are exposed to inflammatory mediators such as 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]. In the present study, we have tested the effects of m-chlorophenylbiguanide (mCPBG), an agonist at the 5-HT(3) serotonin receptor, on activity- and potential-dependent variations in membrane threshold and conduction velocity of unmyelinated C-fiber axons of isolated rat sural nerve segments. The increase in axonal excitability during application of mCPBG was much stronger at higher frequencies of action potentials and/or during axonal membrane hyperpolarization. The effects on the postspike recovery cycle also depended on the rate of stimulation. At an action potential frequency of 1 Hz or in hyperpolarized axons, mCPBG produced a loss of superexcitability. In contrast, at 0.33 Hz, a small increase in the postspike subexcitability was observed. Similar effects on excitability changes were found when latency instead of threshold was recorded, but only at higher action potential frequencies: at 1.8 Hz, mCPBG increased conduction velocity and reduced postspike supernormality. The latter effect would increase the interspike interval if pairs of action potentials were conducted along several cm in an inflamed nerve trunk. These data indicate that activation of axonal 5-HT(3) receptors not only enhances membrane excitability but also modulates action potential trains in unmyelinated, including nociceptive, nerve fibers at high impulse rates.


1993 ◽  
Vol 341 (1296) ◽  
pp. 113-127 ◽  

1. The receptor organs of the acoustico-lateralis system in fish respond in various ways to pressures and pressure gradients and provide the fish with information about external sources of vibration. 2. A fish’s movements will set up pressures and pressure gradients and this poses three questions, (i) Can a fish obtain useful information from self-generated pressures and pressure gradients? (ii) To what extent do self-generated pressures mask signals from external sources? (iii) Can interactions between external and self-generated pressures and gradients in the acoustico-lateralis system give patterns of activity from the receptor organs which have special significance? 3. In herring ( Clupea harengus L. ) and sprat ( Spratus sprattus (L.)) measurements have been made of dimensions of various parts of the acoustico-lateralis system particularly of the subcerebral perilymph canal which crosses the head between the lateral lines. 4. Self-generated pressures produced by lateral movements of the head are antisymmetric, i.e. equal and opposite in sign on the left and right sides of the head. They oppose the accelerations of the head that produce them. In contrast, external sources give pressures that are largely symmetric. Any pressure gradients they give will accelerate the fish and the surrounding water together and any net pressure gradients will be small and so will any flows through the subcerebral perilymph canal. 5. Flows of liquid between the lateral lines across the lateral-recess membranes have been measured at various frequencies for pressure gradients applied across the head. Between 5 and 200 Hz the velocity of flow per unit pressure does not vary by more than than a factor of 2. At low frequencies the absolute values of flow are very much larger (more than 50 times) than those found for equally large symmetrically applied pressures (as from an external source) due to flow into the elastic gas containing bullae. 6. It is calculated that a net pressure difference (at optimum frequency) across the head of only 0.008 Pa will reach threshold for the lateral line neuromast nearest the lateral recess and one of 0.02 Pa for that under the eye. The responses of these neuromasts are expected to saturate and provide little information when the pressure differences across the head exceed 6 to 18 Pa. The pressures given by the swimming fish are discussed in the light of a theory advanced by Lighthill in the paper that follows this paper. With such antisymmetric pressures the direction of flow in the lateral-line canals will be towards the lateral recess on one side of the fish and away on the other and so differ from the situation found with an external source when flow at any instant will be either towards or away from the lateral recess on both sides of the head. 7. Antisymmetric pressures can produce large flows past the utricular maculae. However, at low frequencies flows across the maculae, on which their stimulation depends, will be small. We do not know the direction of these latter flows though they will be in opposite sense on the two sides of the head, again unlike the situation with an external source. 8. Calculations of impedances below 30 Hz show that the observed flows across the head are consistent with the dimensions and properties of the known structures. 9. There are major and systematic differences in the patterns of receptor organ stimulation between those expected from external sources and from a fish’s own movements. 10. Experiments on the red mullet ( Mullus surmuletus L.) showed that it too has a transverse channel connecting the right and left lateral-line systems. At low frequencies its properties resemble those of the subcerebral perilymph canal of the clupeid.


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