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Statocyst interneurons in the crayfishProcambarus clarkii Girard

I. Identification and response characteristics

  • Published:
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Summary

  1. 1.

    Four pairs of descending interneurons which were excited by the statocyst were identified in the ventral nerve cord of the crayfishProcambarus clarkii Girard.

  2. 2.

    These statocyst interneurons showed directional sensitivity: interneuron C1 responded to head-up and same-side-down tilting of the body, C2 to head-up and -down and same-side-down tilting whereas I2 to head-down and same-side-up tilting. I1 responded to tilting in all directions.

  3. 3.

    They ran all through the ventral nerve cord from the brain to the terminal (6th abdominal) ganglion and directly projected on the latter. The conduction velocity of interneuron C1 was 3.8 ±1.3 m/s.

  4. 4.

    They were located in particular areas in the cross section of the ventral nerve cord. Interneuron C1 was almost always found in Wiersma's area 74 in the circumesophageal commissure and area 78 in the 5–6 abdominal connective. Interneurons C2, I1 and I2 were found in areas 66 and 80, 62 and 77 and 68 and 80 (84) respectively.

  5. 5.

    Statolith removal experiment revealed that interneurons C1 and C2 received input from the statocyst contralateral to the axons in the nerve cord. I2 received input from the ipsilateral statocyst. I1 received input from the statocyst on either side.

  6. 6.

    The connection between the statocyst sensory neuron and the interneuron was studied by electrical stimulation of the sensory neurons. The result indicated that it was organized in a parallel way, one being monosynaptic and the other polysynaptic.

  7. 7.

    They showed phaso-tonic response to body tilting. The spike discharge rate in the tonic component represented the angle of body tilt.

  8. 8.

    It was concluded that the direction and magnitude of the body tilt were represented by the combination of excited interneurons in both connectives and the spike discharge rate of each excited interneuron respectively.

  9. 9.

    The statocyst interneurons also received visual input and proprioceptive input from the walking legs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoological Institute, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, 060, Sapporo, Japan

    Masakazu Takahata & Mituhiko Hisada

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  1. Masakazu Takahata
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  2. Mituhiko Hisada
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Takahata, M., Hisada, M. Statocyst interneurons in the crayfishProcambarus clarkii Girard. J. Comp. Physiol. 149, 287–300 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619143

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619143

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