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The physiological and anatomical localization of two electroreceptive diencephalic nuclei in the thornback ray,Platyrhinoidis triseriata

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Two discrete electroreceptive nuclei have been anatomically and electrophysiologically localized in the diencephalon of the thornback ray,Platyrhinoidis triseriata. Physiological characteristics of these nuclei are compared to those recorded in the mesencephalic electroreceptive nucleus, the lateral nucleus (LN) of the lateral mesencephalic nuclear complex.

  2. 2.

    Maximal mesencephalic electroreceptive activity was restricted to the anatomically defined lateral nucleus (Fig. 2). Electroreceptive evoked potentials (EEPs) show a peak latency of 21–29 ms and EEP amplitude varies inversely with stimulus repetition rate, falling to 10% of the maximum value at 8 pulses/s or higher. Response amplitude increases monotonically with stimulus intensity from 10 to 100 μV/cm, often followed by depression at higher intensities. Imposition of a stimulus train results in a response pattern of facilitation and depression unique to this nucleus.

  3. 3.

    The anterior nucleus (AN), which may be diencephalic, was localized to the middle third of the optic lobes at depths between 500–2,000 μm. EEPs have a 29–42 ms latency and reach 10% of the maximum amplitude at a pulse repetition rate of only 4/s. In addition, the intensity/response function is steeper and facilitation different compared to responses of the lateral nucleus.

  4. 4.

    The posterior lateral thalamic nucleus (PLT), a clearly diencephalic electroreceptive region, was localized ventral to AN at 3,000 μm in the rostral two-thirds of the optic lobe. Latencies are longer (36–48 ms) than those recorded in LN and AN. Depression of EEP amplitude with pulse repetition rate is similar to that in the anterior nucleus but the effects of intensity and stimulus trains are distinguishable.

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Abbreviations

AN :

anterior nucleus

EEP :

electroreceptive evoked potential

ISI :

interpulse interval

LN :

lateral nucleus of the mesencephalic nuclear complex

LTN :

lateral tuberal nucleus

MUA :

multiunit activity

PLT :

posterior thalamic nucleus

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  1. Neurobiology Unit, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, 92093, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    Jeff Schweitzer

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  1. Jeff Schweitzer
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Schweitzer, J. The physiological and anatomical localization of two electroreceptive diencephalic nuclei in the thornback ray,Platyrhinoidis triseriata . J. Comp. Physiol. 153, 331–341 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612587

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