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Electric organ corollary discharge pathways in mormyrid fish

I. The mesencephalic command associated nucleus

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Abstract

Corollary discharge signals associated with the motor command that elicits the electric organ discharge are prominent in the electrosensory lobe of mormyrid fish (Gnathonemus petersii). Central pathways and structures that convey these signals from the motor command nucleus to the electrosensory lobe are known anatomically, but these structures and their contributions to the various corollary discharge phenomena have not been examined physiologically. This study examines one such structure, the mesencephalic command associated nucleus (MCA).

Recordings from MCA cells show a highly stereotyped two spike response. The first spike of the response has a latency of about 2.5 ms following the initiation of the electric organ discharge (EOD) motor command which is about 5.5 ms before the occurrence of the EOD.

Results from stimulation and lesion experiments indicate that MCA is responsible for: 1) the gate-like corollary discharge-driven inhibition of the knollenorgan pathway; 2) the gate-like corollary discharge-driven excitation of granule cells in the mormyromast regions of the electrosensory lobe; and 3) various excitatory effects on other cells in the mormyromast regions.

Some corollary discharge phenomena are still present after MCA lesions, including the earliest corollary discharge effects and the plasticity that follows pairing with electrosensory stimuli. These phenomena must be mediated by structures other than MCA.

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Abbreviations

BCA :

bulbar command associated nucleus

C EOD :

motor command

C3 :

central cerebellar lobule 3

COM EOD:

motor command nucleus

DLZ :

dorsolateral zone of ELL cortex

EGa :

eminentia granularis anterior

EGp :

eminentia granularis posterior

ELa :

nucleus exterolateralis anterior

ELL :

electrosensory lobe

ELLml :

molecular layer of ELL cortex

EOD :

electric organ discharge

gang :

ganglion layer

gran :

granule layer

jlem :

juxtalemniscal region

JLl :

lateral juxtalobar nucleus

JLm :

medial juxtalobar nucleus

lat :

nucleus lateralis

ll :

lateral lemniscus

MCA :

mesencephalic command associated nucleus

mol :

molecular layer

MOml :

molecular layer of the medial octavolateral nucleus

MRN :

medullary relay nucleus

MZ :

medial zone of ELL cortex

nALL :

anterior lateral line nerve

NELL :

nucleus of the electrosensory lobe

nX :

cranial nerve X (vagus)

OT :

optic tectum

PCA :

paratrigeminal command associated nucleus

pee :

praeeminentialis electrosensory tract

plex :

plexiform layer

prae :

nucleus praeeminentialis

sublem :

sublemniscal nucleus

TEL :

telencephalon

VLZ :

ventrolateral zone of ELL cortex

vped :

valvular peduncle

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Author notes

  1. K. Dunn

    Present address: Gilead Sciences Inc., 353 Lakeside Dr., 94404, Foster City, CA, USA

  2. C. Hall

    Present address: School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, S. W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., 97201, Portland, OR, USA

  3. A. Caputi

    Present address: Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas “Clemente Estable”, Av. Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay

Authors and Affiliations

  1. R.S. Dow Neurological Sciences Institute, Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center, 1120 N.W. 20th Ave., 97209, Portland, OR, USA

    C. Bell, K. Dunn, C. Hall & A. Caputi

Authors
  1. C. Bell
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  2. K. Dunn
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  3. C. Hall
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  4. A. Caputi
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Bell, C., Dunn, K., Hall, C. et al. Electric organ corollary discharge pathways in mormyrid fish. J Comp Physiol A 177, 449–462 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00187481

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00187481

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