Abstract
This study examined the effects of a set of identified wind-sensitive local interneurons (9DL interneurons) on the wind-evoked spike output and directional sensitivity of an ascending interneuron (10-3) in the cricket (Acheta domesticus) cercal sensory system. Comparison of the directional sensitivities of the 9DL interneurons and 10-3 revealed that 3 of the 9DL interneurons have a large degree of overlap in their excitatory receptive fields with that of 10-3. Photoinactivation of any one of these 3 9DL interneurons resulted in a significant decrease in the spike output of 10-3 at its optimal excitatory wind stimulus positions. However, the overall directional sensitivity of 10-3 remained essentially unchanged. Photoinactivation of the one 9DL interneuron which had no overlap in its excitatory receptive field with 10-3 did not affect 10-3's responsiveness to wind stimuli. Results from simultaneous intracellular recordings of 10-3 and one of the 9DL interneurons which had an excitatory influence on 10-3 showed that depolarization of the local interneuron produced an epsp in 10-3, and could elicit several action potentials. Comparison of the morphologies of the 9DL interneurons and 10-3 revealed that the 3 9DL interneurons which had an excitatory influence on 10-3 all had regions of dendritic overlap with this ascending interneuron.
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Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
analysis of variance
- Contra:
-
contralateral
- epsp:
-
excitatory post-synaptic potential
- Ipsi:
-
ipsilateral
- LGI:
-
lateral giant interneuron
- MGI:
-
medial giant interneuron
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Bodnar, D.A. Excitatory influence of wind-sensitive local interneurons on an ascending interneuron in the cricket cercal sensory system. J Comp Physiol A 172, 641–651 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213686
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213686