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Generation of a fixed motor pattern

I. Details of synaptic interconnections of pyloric neurons in the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab,Cancer pagurus

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The generation of the pyloric motor pattern of the Stomatogastric ganglion of the crab,Cancer pagurus, was studied via intracellular recording in isolated ganglia. Synaptic interactions of the four pyloric dilators (PD), the single lateral pyloric (LP) and the eight pyloric (PY) neurons as well as aspects of their functional significance were investigated in some detail.

  2. 2.

    The medium-sized m-PD-bursting pacemakers which constitute the trigger neurons for the pyloric discharge pattern are electrotonically coupled together and to the small sized s-PD-neurons which appear to assist in driving the m-PD-neurons. Slow membrane oscillations are less attenuated than spikes.

  3. 3.

    The pyloric dilator (PD) neurons are mutual inhibitory with the lateral pyloric (LP)-neuron. The characteristic time-course of the inhibition onto the LP-neuron (fast rise, plateau phase) is brought about by the concomitant discharge of the m-PD-neurons. The LP onto PD feedback inhibition appears to stabilize or to help to maintain a bursting characteristic of the PD-neurons.

  4. 4.

    The PD-neurons also inhibit the pyloric (PY)-neurons. Additionally, some of the inhibitory connections are in parallel with electrical coupling. The coactivation of chemical inhibitory and electrotonic synapses may participate in slowing the synaptic parameters (delay, rise and fall).

  5. 5.

    Lateral pyloric (LP) and pyloric (PY) neurons are mutual inhibitory interconnected. The sequential discharge of these neurons in the pyloric pattern may be generated by the delayed discharge of the PY-neurons (see 4) and the inhibitory input from the LP-neuron which further delays the discharge of the PY-neurons.

  6. 6.

    Some of the pyloric (PY) neurons are interconnected electrotonically.

  7. 7.

    It is concluded that in addition to chemical inhibitory synaptic interconnections, electrotonic interactions contribute significantly to the production of the pyloric output pattern.

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Abbreviations

PD :

Pyloric dilators

LP :

(single) lateral pyloric neuron

PY :

(8) pyloric neurons

m-PD :

medium-sized pyloric dilator neurons

s-PD :

small-sized pyloric dilator neuron

IPSP :

inhibitory postsynaptic potential

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Author notes

  1. A. Hermann

    Present address: Department of Physiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 80 East Concord Street, 02118, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Kraepelinstrasse 2, D-8000, München 40, Germany

    A. Hermann

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Hermann, A. Generation of a fixed motor pattern. J. Comp. Physiol. 130, 221–228 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614608

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614608

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