Serotonin-Immunoreactive CPT Interneurons in Hermissenda: Identification of Sensory Input and Motor Projections

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lian-Ming Tian ◽  
Ryo Kawai ◽  
Terry Crow

Serotonin immunoreactive (5-HT-IR) neurons identified as cerebropleural ganglion triplets (CPTs) in Hermissenda may be homologues of 5-HT-IR neurons identified in other opisthobranch molluscs. In studies of isolated nervous systems and semi-intact preparations we used a combination of immunohistochemical techniques and fluorescent labeling with Lucifer yellow to identify 5-HT-IR CPT neurons after investigating sensory inputs and motor neuron projections. Here we show that identified 5-HT-IR CPT interneurons receive sensory input from mechanoreceptors and photoreceptors. In semi-intact preparations with intact pedal nerves P1 and P2, cutaneous stimulation of the middle or tail regions of the foot with calibrated von Frey hairs elicited spikes recorded from identified CPT interneurons. Illumination of the eyes evoked a small complex excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and resulted in a modest increase in the spike discharge of CPT interneurons. Immunostaining of Lucifer yellow–labeled neurons revealed that CPT interneurons projected an axonal process to the contralateral pedal ganglion. Depolarization of CPT interneurons with extrinsic current evoked EPSPs and spikes recorded from identified VP2 pedal neurons, motor neurons previously shown to elicit movement of the anterior foot. Extrinsic current stimulation of CPT interneurons in semi-intact preparations evoked movement of the anterior foot but did not facilitate ciliary activity or evoke PSPs recorded in identified VP1 ciliary motor neurons. Our results show that CPT neurons are polysensory interneurons that contribute to reflexive foot contractions in Hermissenda.

1984 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1362-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Marder ◽  
J. S. Eisen

The two pyloric dilator (PD) motor neurons and the single anterior burster (AB) interneuron are electrically coupled and together comprise the pacemaker for the pyloric central pattern generator of the stomatogastric ganglion of the lobster, Panulirus interruptus. Previous work (31) has shown that the AB neuron is an endogenously bursting neuron, while the PD neuron is a conditional burster. In this paper the effects of physiological inputs and neurotransmitters on isolated PD neurons and AB neurons were studied using the lucifer yellow photoinactivation technique (33). Stimulation of the inferior ventricular nerve (IVN) fibers at high frequencies elicits a triphasic response in AB and PD neurons: a rapid excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) followed by a slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP), followed by an enhancement of the pacemaker slow-wave depolarizations. Photoinactivation experiments indicate that the enhancement of the slow wave is due primarily to actions of the IVN fibers on the PD neurons but not on the AB neuron. Bath-applied dopamine dramatically alters the motor output of the pyloric system. Photoinactivation experiments show that 10(-4) M dopamine increases the amplitude and frequency of the slow-wave depolarizations recorded in the AB neurons but hyperpolarizes and inhibits the PD neurons. Bath-applied serotonin increases the frequency and amplitude of the slow-wave depolarizations in the AB neuron but has no effect on PD neurons. Pilocarpine, a muscarinic cholinergic agonist, stimulates slow-wave depolarization production in both PD neurons and the AB neuron, but the waveform and frequency of the slow waves elicited are quite different. These results show that although the electrically coupled PD and AB neurons always depolarize synchronously and act together as the pacemaker for the pyloric system, they respond differently to a neuronal input and to several putative neuromodulators. Thus, despite electrical coupling sufficient to ensure synchronous activity, the PD and AB neurons can be modulated independently.


1989 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. F. Tseng ◽  
L. B. Haberly

1. Synaptic responses of cells in layer III of the piriform cortex and the subjacent endopiriform nucleus (layer IV) were analyzed with intracellular recording techniques in a slice preparation from the rat, cut perpendicular to the pial surface. 2. Micropipettes containing Lucifer yellow (LY) were used to correlate response properties with morphology. An antiserum to LY was used to intensify staining and to prevent fading during detailed morphological study. Response properties were also examined with potassium acetate-containing electrodes. 3. Morphologically, two cell types were identified: pyramidal cells that were confined to layer III of the piriform cortex and multipolar cells that were in layer III and the endopiriform nucleus. 4. In morphology, deep pyramidal cells in layer III closely resembled superficial pyramidal cells in layer II, with the exception that primary apical dendritic trunks were longer and basal dendritic arborizations were more extensive than apical. Like superficial pyramidal cells, apical dendrites of all deep pyramidal cells stained extended through the afferent fiber termination zone in layer Ia and gave rise to local axonal arbors that were concentrated in layer III and the endopiriform nucleus. 5. Multipolar cells were morphologically indistinguishable in layer III and the endopiriform nucleus. All gave rise to nonvaricose spiny dendrites that never extended into layer II and local axonal arbors. 6. Response properties of deep pyramidal and multipolar cells were similar; responses of both of these populations were very different from those of superficial pyramidal cells. The primary difference between responses of deep pyramidal and multipolar cells was a shorter latency of postsynaptic potentials evoked in deep pyramidal cells by stimulation of afferent fibers, consistent with the extension of their dendrites into layer Ia. 7. Responses of most deep cells to stimulation of afferent and association fibers at sufficiently high strength consisted of an initial excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), followed by a fast Cl- -mediated and a slow K+-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP). 8. A characteristic feature of deep cells, which was only rarely observed in superficial pyramidal cells, was the presence of variable EPSPs evoked at long latencies (greater than 100 ms) by stimulation of afferent or association fibers. 9. A striking finding for deep pyramidal and multipolar cells, when studied with LY-containing pipettes, was a variable slowly rising depolarizing potential triggered at depolarized membrane potentials by stimulation of afferent or association fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


1984 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Goh ◽  
D. L. Alkon

The visual pathway of Hermissenda was identified by means of intracellular recordings and iontophoretic injection of the fluorescent dye lucifer yellow. This pathway consisted of five neuron types, namely, type B photoreceptors and the medial type A photoreceptor within each of the two eyes, hair cells in the two statocysts, a group of interneurons in the cerebropleural ganglia, and a putative motor neuron (MN1) in each pedal ganglion. The MN1 cells responded during illumination of the eye with increased impulse and excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) activity. This response was often followed by bursting activity for higher light intensities. The medial type A photoreceptor, which was found to be inhibited by medial and intermediate type B photoreceptors, was demonstrated to excite the MN1 cell indirectly via a group of identified interneurons. Hair cells were also found to excite the MN1 cell indirectly via these interneurons. Among the ipsilateral hair cells, cephalic hair cells were least frequently found to excite the MN1 cell. Among the contralateral hair cells, on the other hand, lateral hair cells were most often found to excite the MN1 cell. Interneurons that were shown to excite the MN1 cell received excitatory input from the medial type A photoreceptor and hair cells. Our observations are consistent with the interpretation that these interactions are mediated by monosynaptic chemical synapses. Electrical stimulation of the MN1 cell with positive-current injection produced turning of the posterior half of the animal's foot to the ipsilateral direction consistent with the animal's turning behavior toward light. The visual pathway identified in this experiment was considered to have some significance in explaining, at least in part, a causal role for changes within type B photoreceptors in producing Hermissenda's modified behavior following associative conditioning.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A12-A12
Author(s):  
Jianhua Zhang ◽  
Mingchu Xi ◽  
Simon Fung ◽  
Charles Tobin ◽  
Sharon Sampogna ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Our previous study has shown that there is a direct connection between GABAergic neurons in the nucleus pontis oralis (NPO) and neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), providing a morphological basis for the hypothesis that GABAergic inhibitory processes in NPO play an important role in the generation and maintenance of wakefulness as well as active (REM) sleep through the interaction with neurons in the DR. However, the target of such a GABAergic projection from the NPO within the DR is unknown. In the present study, a double-fluorescent labeling technique was employed to examine the target of GABAergic inputs to the DR. Methods Adult cats were deeply anesthetized and perfused transcardially. Subsequently, the brainstem containing the DR was removed, postfixed and cut into 15 μm coronal sections with a Reichert-Jung cryostat. The sections were immunostained with antibodies against GABA-A or GABA-B receptors and GABA following the procedure of double fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Results Under fluorescence microscopy, a large number of neurons were labeled with antibodies against either GABA-A receptor or GABA-B receptor. In addition, neurons labeled with antibody against GABA were observed in the DR. With double fluorescence immunohistochemical techniques, some neurons labeled by anti-GABA antibody were also stained with antibodies against GABA-A or GABA-B receptors. Conclusion The expression of GABA-A or GABA-B receptors by GABAergic neurons in the DR indicates that GABAergic neurons in the DR receive GABAergic inputs. Our previous study has demonstrated that these GABAergic inputs are from the NPO. These data provide a morphological foundation to support our hypothesis that, during wakefulness, NPO GABAergic “Executive” neurons suppress “Second-Order” GABAergic neurons in the DR, which, in turn, activate (disinhibit) serotonergic wake-on neurons in this nucleus. Support (if any) NS092383


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."


2000 ◽  
Vol 50 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 550-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Braiman ◽  
Shai D. Silberberg ◽  
Zvi Priel

1996 ◽  
Vol 199 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-625
Author(s):  
T Jellema ◽  
W Heitler

The metathoracic fast extensor tibiae (FETi) motor neurone of locusts is unusual amongst insect motor neurones because it makes output connections within the central nervous system as well as in the periphery. It makes excitatory chemical synaptic connections to most if not all of the antagonist flexor tibiae motor neurones. The gain of the FETi-flexor connection is dependent on the peripheral conditions at the time of the FETi spike. This dependency has two aspects. First, sensory input resulting from the extensor muscle contraction can sum with the central excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) to augment its falling phase if the tibia is restrained in the flexed position (initiating a tension-dependent reflex) or is free to extend (initiating a movement-dependent resistance reflex). This effect is thus due to simple postsynaptic summation of the central EPSP with peripheral sensory input. Second, the static tibial position at the time of the FETi spike can change the amplitude of the central EPSP, in the absence of any extensor muscle contraction. The EPSP can be up to 30 % greater in amplitude if FETi spikes with the tibia held flexed rather than extended. The primary sense organ mediating this effect is the femoral chordotonal organ. Evidence is presented suggesting that the mechanism underlying this change in gain may be specifically localised to the FETi-flexor connection, rather than being due to general position-dependent sensory feedback summing with the EPSP. The change in the amplitude of the central EPSP is probably not caused by general postsynaptic summation with tonic sensory input, since a diminution in the amplitude of the central EPSP caused by tibial extension is often accompanied by overall tonic excitation of the flexor motor neurone. Small but significant changes in the peak amplitude of the FETi spike have a positive correlation with changes in the EPSP amplitude, suggesting a likely presynaptic component to the mechanism of gain control. The change in amplitude of the EPSP can alter its effectiveness in producing flexor motor output and, thus, has functional significance. The change serves to augment the effectiveness of the FETi-flexor connection when the tibia is fully flexed, and thus to increase its adaptive advantage during the co-contraction preceding a jump or kick, and to reduce the effectiveness of the connection when the tibia is partially or fully extended, and thus to reduce its potentially maladaptive consequences during voluntary extension movements such as thrusting.


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.


1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 1777-1786 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. White ◽  
I. Ziv ◽  
L. J. Cleary ◽  
D. A. Baxter ◽  
J. H. Byrne

1. The contributions of monosynaptic and polysynaptic circuitry to the tail-withdrawal reflex in the marine mollusk Aplysia californica were assessed by the use of physiologically based neural network models. Effects of monosynaptic circuitry were examined by the use of a two-layer network model with four sensory neurons in the input layer and one motor neuron in the output layer. Results of these simulations indicated that the monosynaptic circuit could not account fully for long-duration responses of tail motor neurons elicited by tail stimulation. 2. A three-layer network model was constructed by interposing a layer of two excitatory interneurons between the input and output layers of the two-layer network model. These interneurons had properties mimicking those of the recently described interneuron LP117, receiving excitatory input from pleural sensory neurons and evoking a biphasic excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) in pedal motor neurons (Cleary and Byrne 1993). The three-layer model could account for long-duration responses in motor neurons. 3. Sensory neurons are a known site of plasticity in Aplysia. Synaptic plasticity was incorporated into the three-layer model by altering the magnitudes of conductance changes evoked in motor neurons and interneurons by presynaptic sensory neurons. In these simulations the excitatory interneurons converted an amplitude-coded input into an amplitude- and duration-coded output, allowing the three-layer network to support a large range of output amplitudes and durations. 4. Synaptic plasticity at more than one locus modified dramatically the input-output relationship of the three-layer network model. This feature gave the model redundancy in its plastic properties and points to the possibility of distributed memory in the circuitry mediating withdrawal reflexes in Aplysia. Multiple sites of control over the response of the network would likely allow a more diverse repertoire of responses.


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