Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The physiological basis of tactile sensibility in the beak of geese

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The discharges in single afferent fibres of the ophthalmic nerve innervating the upper beak in two kinds of geese (Anser anser andAnser albifrons) were studied during manual and controlled mechanical stimulation. Three types of unit were recorded.

  1. 1)

    Rapidly adapting units deriving from Grandry corpuscles had receptive fields of up to 12 mm in diameter which overlapped or enclosed each other in certain beak skin areas. They responded quantitatively to the velocity of a displacement and there was a wide range of variability in the threshold sensitivity of minimal required displacements and the sensitivity to changes in the stimulus velocity. Grandry units were not spontaneously active and lacked an amplitude component in the response to trapezoidal stimuli.

  2. 2)

    Rapidly adapting units, almost certainly deriving from Herbst corpuscles, required high movement velocities to be activated and appeared to respond only to the acceleration or deceleration phase of a movement. Consequently, Herbst units were excited optimally by vibratory stimuli between 40 and 1500 cycles/sec. A consistent relationship between the velocity of a trapezoidal stimulus and the frequency of discharge in Herbst units could not be demonstrated. The units were not spontaneously active and were located in receptive fields which were often small but could occasionally cover the whole beak.

  3. 3)

    Slowly adapting units deriving from a still unidentified morphological structure were found to originate exclusively in the horny tip of the bill. These units were often spontaneously active and two kinds of slowly adapting discharge with a regular and an irregular discharge were observed. Trapezoidal stimuli elicited both dynamic and static responses which were proportional to the velocity of the movement and its displacement amplitude, respectively. Larger displacements were followed by silent periods which increased in duration with increasing displacement amplitudes. The time course of the adaptation of a response to a constant displacement showed several time constants. The discharge frequency increased on cooling and decreased on warming the receptive field.

  4. 4)

    The experimental findings are discussed with respect to morphological and other physiological results. A model of the operating principle in tactile sensory mechanisms in the goose is proposed, based on the evidence of the morphological and physiological organization of mechanoreceptors and primary afferent units in the beak skin of geese.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, A. E., Nafstad, P. H. J.: An electron microscopic investigation of the sensory organs in the hard palate region of the hen (Gallus domesticus). Z. Zellforsch.91, 391–401 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Andres, K. H., During, M. v.: Morphology of cutaneous receptors. In: Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. II, p. 1–31 (ed. Iggo). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Botezat, E.: Die sensiblen Nervenendapparate in den Hornpapillen der Vögel im Zusammenhang mit Studien zur vergleichenden Morphologie und Physiologie der Sinnesorgane. Anat. Anz.34, 449–468 (1909)

    Google Scholar 

  • Botezat, E.: Knäuelartige Nervenendigungen in der Vogelhaut. Anat. Anz.39 143–148 (1911)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A. G., Iggo, A.: A quantitative study of cutaneous receptors and afferent fibres in the cat and rabbit. J. Physiol. (Lond.)193, 707–733 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrière, G.,: Kurze Mitteilungen zur Kenntnis der Herbst'schen und Grandry'schen Körperchen in dem Schnabel der Ente. Arch. mikr. Anat.21, 146–164 (1882)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, M. R., Andres, K. H., Düring, M, v., Iggo, A.: The structure and function of the slowly adapting type II mechanoreceptor in the hairy skin. Quart. J. exp. Physiol.57, 417–445 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dogiel, A. S.: Über die Nervenendigungen in den Grandry'schen und Herbst'schen Körperchen im Zusammenhang mit der Frage der Neuronentheorie. Anat. Anz.25, 558–574 (1904)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorward, P. K.: Response patterns of cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the domestic duck. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.35, 729–735 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorward, P. K., McIntyre: Responses of vibration-sensitive receptors in the interosseous region of the duck's hind limb. J. Physiol. (Lond.)219, 77–87 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottschaldt, K.-M.: Characteristics of mechanoreceptive units from the beak skin in geese. Pflügers Arch.339, Suppl. R 88 (1973)

  • Gottschaldt, K.-M.: Mechanoreceptors in the beak of birds. In: Mechanoreception Proc. Rhein.-Westf. Akad. Wissenschaft., Vol. 53, (ed. J. Schwartzkopff) in press, 1974

  • Gottschaldt, K.-M., Iggo, A., Young, D. W.: Functional characteristics of mechanoreceptors in sinus hair follicles of the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.)235, 287–315 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottschaldt, K.-M., Lausmann, S.: Mechanoreceptors and their properties in the beak of geese (Anser anser). Brain Res.65, 510–515 (1974a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottschaldt, K.-M., Lausmann, S.: The peripheral morphological basis of tactile sensibility in the beak of geese. Cell Tiss. Res., in press (1974b)

  • Gray, J. A. B., Mathews, P. B. C.: Response of Pacinian corpuscles in the cat's toe. J. Physiol. (Lond.)113, 475–482 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, J. E.: An electrophysiological investigation of the receptor apparatus in the duck's bill. J. Physiol. (Lond.)229, 151–164 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Halata, Z.: Ultrastructure of Grandry nerve endings in the beak skin of some aquatic birds. Folia morph. (Praha)3, 225–232 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington, T., Merzenich, M. M.: Neural coding in the sense of touch: Human sensation of skin indentation compared with the responses of slowly adapting mechanoreceptive efferents innervating the hairy skin of monkey. Exp. Brain Res.10, 251–264 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, F.: Über die Tastkugeln des Entenschnabels. Arch. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch., 288–318 (1878)

  • Iggo, A.: In discussion to T. A. Quilliam: Unit design and array patterns in receptor organs. In: Touch, heat and pain (ed. A. V. S. de Reuck and J. Knight), p. 115. A Ciba Foundation Symposium. London: Churchill 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Iggo, A., Gottschaldt, K.-M.: Cutaneous mechanoreceptors in simple and in complex sensory structures. In: Mechanoreception Proc. Rhein.-Westf. Akad. Wissenschaft., Vol.53, (ed. J. Schwartzkopff) in press, 1974

  • Iggo, A., Muir, A. R.: The structure and function of a slowly adapting touch corpuscle in hairy skin. J. Physiol. (Lond.)200, 736–796 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenton, B., Kruger, L., Woo, M.: Two classes of slowly adapting mechanoreceptor fibres in reptile cutaneous nerve. J. Physiol. (Lond.)212, 21–44 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Knibestöll, M.: Stimulus-response functions of rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors in the human glabrous skin area. J. Physiol. (Lond.)232, 427–452 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leitner, L.-M., Roumy, M.: Mechanosensitive units in the upper bill and in the tongue of the domestic duck. Pflügers Arch.346, 141–150 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leitner, L.-M., Roumy, M., Saxod, R.: Activités afférentes ayant leur origine au niveau du bec inférieur du canard domestique. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris)4277, Série D, 1909–1911 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Malinowsky, L.: Die Nervenendkörperchen in der Haut von Vögeln und ihre Variabilität. Z. mikr. anat. Forsch.77, 279–303 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Merkel, F.: Die Tastzellen der Ente. Arch. mikr. Anat.15, 415–427 (1878)

    Google Scholar 

  • Munger, B. L.: The comparative ultrastructure of slowly and rapidly adapting mechano-receptors. In: Oral-facial sensory and motor mechanisms (R. Dubner, Y. Kawamura, eds.), p. 83–103. New York: Appleton Century Crofts 1971 a

    Google Scholar 

  • Munger, B. L.: Patterns of organization of peripheral sensory receptors. In: Handbook of sensory physiology, vol. I (W. R. Loewenestin, ed.) p. 523–556. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971b

    Google Scholar 

  • Munger, B. L., Pubols, L. M., Pubols, B. H., Jr.: The Merkel-rete papilla- a slowly adapting sensory receptor in mammalian glabrous skin. Brain Res.29, 47–61 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Necker, R.: Temperature sensitivity of thermoreceptors and mechanoreceptors on the beak of pigeons. J. comp. Physiol.87, 379–391 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pubols, L. M., Pubols, B. H., Jr., Munger, B. L.: Functional properties of mechanoreceptors in glabrous skin of the raccoon's forepaw. Exp. Neurol.31, 165–182 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quilliam, T. A.: Unit design and array patterns in receptor organs. In: Touch, heat and pain (ed. A. V. S. de Reuck and J. Knight) p. 86–116. A Ciba Foundation Symposium. London: Churchill (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quilliam, T. A., Armstrong, J.: Hechanoreceptors. Endeavour22, 55–60 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakada, S., Aida, H.: Electrophysiological studies of Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles in the periosteum of the cat facial bones. Bull. Tokyo dent. College12, 255–272 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxod, R.: Étude au microscope électronique de l'histogenèse du corpuscle sensoriel cutané de Grandry chez le Canard. J. Ultrastruct. Res.32, 477–496 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Skoglund, S.: Properties of Pacinian corpuscles of ulnar and tibial location in cat and fowl. Acta physiol. scand.50, 385–386 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapper, D. N.: Stimulus-response relationship in the cutaneous slowly-adapting mechano-receptors in hairy skin of the cat. Exp. Neurol.13, 364–385 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Neurobiologie, Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    K. -M. Gottschaldt

Authors
  1. K. -M. Gottschaldt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the SFB-33 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

The patient and friendly support of Frau J. Mick during the preparation of this paper and the critical and suggestive reading of the manuscript by Dr. D. W. Young are gratefully acknowledged. I thank particularly Herrn L. Meyer for this constructive contribution in designing and building the electronic control units of the electromechanical stimulator.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gottschaldt, K.M. The physiological basis of tactile sensibility in the beak of geese. J. Comp. Physiol. 95, 29–47 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00624349

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00624349

Keywords

Search

Navigation