Electrical and Chemical Synapses Between Giant Interneurones and Giant Flexor Motor Neurones of the Hermit Crab (Pagurus Pollicaris)

1986 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-228
Author(s):  
PHILIP J. STEPHENS
Keyword(s):  
Hermit Crab ◽  
Synaptic Connection ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Electrical Synapse ◽  
Synaptic Delay ◽  
Single Pair ◽  
Lucifer Yellow Ch ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Motor Neurones ◽  
Chemical Synapses

1. An examination is made of the characteristics of the synapses between the single pair of giant interneurones (GIs) and the giant flexor motor neurones (GFMNs) in the fused thoracic-abdominal (TA) ganglion of the hermit crab Pagurus pollicaris. 2. There is an electrical synapse between each GI and its ipsilateral GFMN. Evidence for this includes (a) dye (Lucifer Yellow CH) coupling between the two neurones, (b) a short synaptic (0.2 ms) delay between spikes in the two axons, (c) the ability to pass hyperpolarizing current between the two neurones and (d) the sensitivity of the connection to bath applications of N-ethylmaleimide. This synaptic connection is rectifying, since a GFMN spike does not provoke an action potential in the GI. 3. There is a connection between the GI and the contralateral GFMN. Data indicating that this synaptic connection is chemical includes (a) a synaptic delay of between 0.6 and 0.8 ms, (b) transmission i9 easily and irreversibly fatigued, (c) the synapse is insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide and (d) there is no dye coupling between the two neurones. 4. Branches of the GFMN come in close proximity with the GI on both sides of the TA ganglion. However, it is not known whether there is a direct connection or an intervening neurone between the GI and the contralateral GFMN.

scholarly journals The Segmental Giant Neurone of the Hermit Crab Eupagurus Bernhardus

1986 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Heitler ◽  
K. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Cell Body ◽  
Hermit Crab ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Electrical Synapse ◽  
Giant Fibre ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Motor Neurones ◽  
Evolutionary Paths ◽  
Contralateral Motor ◽  
Giant Fibre System

The anatomy and physiology of the segmental giant (SG) neurone of the fourth abdominal ganglion of the hermit crab is described. The SG has an apparently blindending axon in the first root and a small cell body in the anterior ipsilateral ventral quadrant of the ganglion. There is a large ipsilateral neuropile arborization with prominent dendrites lined up along the course of the ipsilateral giant fibre (GF). The SG receives 1:1 input from the ipsilateral GF via an electrical synapse which is usually rectifying. SG activation produces a large EPSP in all ipsilateral and some contralateral fast flexor excitor (FF) motor neurones. The major input to FFs resulting from GF activation appears to be mediated via the SG. It also produces a small EPSP in ipsilateral and contralateral motor giant neurones. The properties of the hermit crab SG are compared to those of the crayfish SG, and the implications of the SG for the possible evolutionary paths of the giant fibre system are discussed.

scholarly journals Interactions of the Giant Fibres and Motor Giant Neurones of the Hermit Crab

1987 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 353-370
Author(s):  
W. J. HEITLER ◽  
K. FRASER
Keyword(s):  
Hermit Crab ◽  
Electrical Synapse ◽  
Chemical Synapse ◽  
Electrical Synapses ◽  
Giant Fibre ◽  
Giant Neurone ◽  
Giant Fibres ◽  
Chemical Synapses ◽  
Contralateral Motor ◽  
Recent Claim

A recent claim that the giant fibre of the hermit crab excites its contralateral motor giant neurone through a chemical rather than an electrical synapse (Stephens, 1986) was re-examined. We found that the reported increased latency (relative to the electrical ipsilateral synapse) was postsynaptic in origin, as was the increased spike ‘jitter’. There was no difference in synaptic latency between the electrical synapse and the supposed chemical one. We did not find a consistent resistance to N-ethylmaleimide (an uncoupler of electrical synapses) by the supposed chemical synapse, but the synapse was resistant to 2 mmol 1−1 cadmium, which blocks known chemical synapses in the system. Sub-threshold depolarizing current passed from the presynaptic giant fibre to the postsynaptic contralateral motor giant, and hyperpolarizing current passed antidromically. We conclude that the synapse is electrical and not chemical in nature.

scholarly journals Immunocytochemical identification of dye-injected cells.

1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L Michaels
Keyword(s):  
Pancreatic Islet ◽  
Islet Cells ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Immunofluorescent Staining ◽  
Pancreatic Islet Cells ◽  
Lucifer Yellow Ch ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Coupled Cells ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescent

Lucifer Yellow CH may be injected into pancreatic islet cells and visualized in Epon sections of the embedded tissue both before and after plastic removal and immunocyto-chemical staining. The dye retains its fluorescence, clearly marking the injected cell and adjacent dye-coupled cells, but does not interfere with the indirect immunofluorescent staining patterns that are characteristic of the islet cells

The Physiology and Morphology of Median Nerve Motor Neurones in the Thoracic Ganglia of the Locust

1982 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 325-341
Author(s):  
MALCOLM BURROWS
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Input ◽  
Motor Neurone ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Thoracic Ganglia ◽  
Synaptic Potentials ◽  
Metathoracic Ganglion ◽  
Inspiratory Motor ◽  
Motor Neurones ◽  
Chemical Synapses ◽  
The Right

Simultaneous intracellular recordings have been made from the two expiratory, and from the two inspiratory motor neurones which have their axons in the unpaired median nerves of the thoracic ganglia. Each motor neurone has an axon that branches to innervate muscles on the left and on the right side of one segment. The expiratory neurones studied were those in the meso- and meta-thoracic ganglia which innervate spiracular closer muscles. The depolarizing synaptic potentials underlying the spikes during expiration are common to the two closer motor neurones in a particular segment. Similarly, during inspiration when there are usually no spikes, the hyperpolarizing, inhibitory potentials are also common to both motor neurones. The synaptic input to the neurones can be derived from four interneurones; two responsible for the depolarizing potentials during expiration and two for the inhibitory potentials during inspiration. The inspiratory neurones studied were those in the abdominal ganglia fused to the metathoracic ganglion which innervate dorso-ventral abdominal muscles. During inspiration the two motor neurones of one segment spike at a similar and steady frequency. The underlying synaptic input to the two is common. During expiration, when there are usually no spikes, the hyperpolarizing synaptic potentials are also common to both neurones. In addition they match exactly the depolarizing potentials occurring at the same time in the closer motor neurones. The same set of interneurones could be responsible. No evidence has been revealed to indicate that the two closer, or the two inspiratory motor neurones of one segment are directly coupled by electrical or chemical synapses. The morphology of both types of motor neurone is distinct from that of other motor neurones in these ganglia. Both types branch extensively in both the left and in the right areas of the neuropile.

Organization of synaptic inputs to paracerebral feeding command interneurons of Pleurobranchaea californica. I. Excitatory inputs

1983 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1517-1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Kovac ◽  
W. J. Davis ◽  
E. M. Matera ◽  
R. P. Croll
Keyword(s):  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Electrical Synapse ◽  
Functional Specialization ◽  
Synaptic Inputs ◽  
Rhythmic Motor ◽  
Pleurobranchaea Californica ◽  
Long Latency ◽  
Chemical Inputs ◽  
Dendritic Fields

Neurons presynaptic to the phasic paracerebral feeding command interneurons (PCP's; Ref. 55) of Pleurobranchaea were located in the isolated central nervous system (CNS) and studied anatomically by lucifer yellow injection and physiologically by current injection and intracellular recording in normal and ion-substituted seawater during quiescence and fictive feeding. The present paper describes excitatory inputs to PCP's, while the accompanying paper (54) reports inhibitory inputs. Monosynaptic excitors (MSEs) are a group of at least three monopolar neurons per hemiganglion. Two have similar dendritic structures and functional effects. Each MSE monosynaptically excites the PCP's and fires action-potential bursts in phase with PCP bursts during fictive feeding. The class I electrotonic neuron (ETI) is a single, identified monopolar neuron per hemiganglion with a sparse dendritic arborization and no descending axon in the cerebrobuccal connective (CBC). The ETI is coupled with PCP's only by means of a non-rectifying electrical synapse. Paradoxically, ETI receives opposite synaptic inputs from PCP's and fires in antiphase with PCP's during fictive feeding. Class II electrotonic neurons (ETII's) are a group of at least two identified multipolar neurons per hemiganglion with indistinguishable dendritic architectures and similar but distinguishable functional effects. Each cell is coupled with PCP's by means of a nonrectifying electrical synapse. One of the ETII's also delivers graded, long-latency poly-synaptic chemical inputs to PCP's. ETII's have descending axons in the CBC, elicit fictive feeding when depolarized, and fire cyclically and in phase with PCP's during fictive feeding. Polysynaptic excitors (PSEs) are a group of at least two identified monopolar neurons per hemiganglion with similar elaborate dendritic fields and functional effects. Each cell excites PCP's by a long-latency, relatively nongraded polysynaptic pathway. PSEs also have descending axons in the ipsilateral CBC, elicit fictive feeding when depolarized, and fire in phase with PCP's during fictive feeding. PSEs and ETII's are here recognized as subclasses of neurons previously identified as paracerebral neurons. They are inhibited by the same neurons that supply recurrent inhibition to PCP's (47), share excitatory inputs with PCP's, and exhibit a similar "command" capacity. This study thus documents redundancy and functional specialization within a command system controlling a relatively complex rhythmic motor behavior.

Identification of a putative mechanosensory neuron in Lymnaea: characterization of its synaptic and functional connections with the whole-body withdrawal interneuron

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 3230-3238 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Inoue ◽  
M. Takasaki ◽  
K. Lukowiak ◽  
N. I. Syed
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Neuron ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Synaptic Connection ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Pond Snail ◽  
Mechanosensory Neuron ◽  
Functional Connections ◽  
Freshwater Pond ◽  
Withdrawal Behavior

1. In this study, we identified a putative mechanosensory neuron in the freshwater pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. This sensory neuron, termed right parietal dorsal 3 (RPD3), mediates part of the whole-body withdrawal behavior via the activation of a withdrawal interneuron. 2. RPD3 is located in the central ring ganglia, where its soma is situated on the dorsal surface of the right parietal ganglion. Intracellular injection of the dye Lucifer yellow revealed that RPD3 has both central and peripheral axonal projections. 3. In isolated-CNS preparations, RPD3 was quiescent. In semi-intact preparations, however, a gentle/moderate mechanical touch (by a pair of blunt forceps) to the mantle cavity or columellar musculature elicited action potentials in RPD3 in the absence of prepotential activity. Furthermore, mechanical stimulus-induced action potentials in RPD3 persisted in the presence of zero Ca2+/ high Mg2+ and high Ca2+/high Mg2+ salines. Together, these data suggest that RPD3 is most likely to be a primary sensory neuron. 4. In both isolated-CNS and semi-intact preparations, intracellular depolarization of RPD3 excited the whole-body withdrawal interneuron right pedal dorsal 11 (RPeD11). This synaptic connection persisted in the presence of high Ca2+ and high Mg2+ saline, suggesting that it is likely to be monosynaptic. Moreover, when stimulated electrically, the interneuron RPeD11 induced an hyperpolarizing response in RPD3. The possibility of this connection being monosynaptic was not tested, however, in the present study. Together, these data demonstrate that RPD3 excites RPeD11, which in turn may inhibit RPD3 activity. 5. In the semi-intact preparation, a mechanical touch to the mantle edge excited RPD3, which in turn generated action potentials in RPeD11. Zero Ca2+ saline blocked this synaptic connection between RPD3 and RPeD11, suggesting that it is chemical. 6. To demonstrate that RPD3 was sufficient to induce the withdrawal response and that the withdrawal behavior was mediated indirectly via RPeD11, we made simultaneous intracellular recordings from these two neurons while monitoring muscle contractions via a tension transducer. Intracellular depolarization of RPD3 elicited action potentials in RPeD11, followed by the contraction of the columellar muscle. Similar stimulation of RPD3 failed to excite a simultaneously hyperpolarized RPeD11 and as a result, no contraction of the columellar muscle occurred. Direct intracellular depolarization of RPeD11, however, induced the contraction of the columellar muscle. These data suggest that RPD3-induced withdrawal behavior is mediated in part via RPeD11.

scholarly journals Ganglionic and non-ganglionic neurons in frog heart: do they differ?

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Darius Batulevičius ◽  
Gertrūda Skripkienė ◽  
Greta Graužinytė ◽  
Augustina Grigaitė ◽  
Valdas Skripka
Keyword(s):  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Frog Heart ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Fluorescent Markers ◽  
Lucifer Yellow Ch ◽  
Frog Rana Temporaria ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Intracardiac Neurons

This study was designed to compare the morphology of neurons in relation to their distance from the major nerve trunks in the heart of the frog Rana temporaria. Seventy-nine intracardiac neurons were labelled intracellularly with fluorescent markers Lucifer Yellow CH and Alexa Fluor 568. The neurons located on the extensions of the vagus nerve were considered as ganglionic, while neurons spread loosely at further distance from these extensions were considered as non-ganglionic. The mean area of the soma in ganglionic neurons was about 25% larger than in non-ganglionic neurons. Ganglionic neurons had a higher soma area/nucleus area ratio than non-ganglionic neurons. Although both the total number and the total length of dendrite-like processes was similar between the two groups, ganglionic neurons had significantly fewer dendrite-like processes from the soma (1.5±0.3 vs. 3.9±1.0; P<0.05) and shorter total length of these processes from the soma (63±18 μm vs. 178±51 μm; P<0.05). In conclusion, ganglionic and non-ganglionic frog intracardiac neurons exhibit substantial morphological differences. We hypothesize that these differences may indicate different projections or variations in the number of their preganglionic inputs.

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