Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evidence for the cholinergic nature of cockroach giant fibers: use of specific degeneration

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

Summary

Following specific degeneration of giant fibers, ascertained electrophysiologically, up to 32% decrease of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity occurs in the cockroach abdominal ventral cord. A smaller decrease was found in the thoracic region, in accordance with morphological data on the relative contribution of giant fibers to the cord volume. The correlation between the decrease in CAT activity and degeneration indicates the cholinergic nature of the giant fibers.

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

Abbreviations

CAT:

Choline acetyltransferse

GF:

Giant fibre

References

  • Castel, M., Spira, M.E., Parnas, I., Yarom, Y.: Ultrastructure of region of a low safety factor in inhomogeneous giant axon of the cockroach. J. Neurophys.39, 900–908 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dagan, D., Parnas, I.: Giant fibre and small nerve pathways involved in the evasive response of the cockroach,Periplaneta americana. J. exp. Biol.52, 313–324 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farley, R.D., Milburn, N.S.: Structure and function of the giant fibre system in the cockroach,Periplaneta americana. J. Insect Physiol.15, 457–476 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess, A.: Experimental anatomical studies of pathways in the severed central nerve cord of the cockroach. J. Morph.103, 479–499 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parnas, I., Dagan, D.: Functional organization of giant axons in the central nervous system of insects: new aspects. Advanc. Insect Physiol.8, 95–144 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parnas, I., Spira, M.E., Werman, R., Bergmann, F.: Non-homo geneous conduction in giant axons of the nerve cord ofPeriplaneta americana, J. exp. Biol.50, 635–649 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pichon, Y., Boistel, J.: Current-voltage relations in the isolated giant axon of the cockroach under voltage clamp conditions. J. exp. Biol.47, 343–355 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pichon, Y., Callec, J.J.: Further studies on synaptic transmission in insects. I. External recording of synaptic potentials in a single giant axon of the cockroach,Periplaneta americana. J.exp. Biol.52, 257–265 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pipa, R.L., Cook, E.F., Richards, A.G.: Studies on the hexapod nervous system. II. The histology of the thoracic ganglia of the adult cockroach,Periplaneta americana (L.). J. comp. Neu rol.113, 401–423 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pittman, R.: Neurotransmitters in insect CNS: A review. Comp. gen. Pharm.2, 347–357 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritzmann, R.E., Camhi, J.M.: Excitation of leg motor neurons by giant interneurons in the cockroachPeriplaneta americana. J. comp. Physiol. (in press)

  • Roeder, D.K.: Organization of the ascending giant fiber system in the cockroach (Periplaneta americana). J. exp. Zool.108, 243–261 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • Same, Y., Schrier, B.K., Gainer, H.: Evidence for the local synthesis of a transmitter enzyme (glutamic acid decarboxylase) in crayfish peripheral nerve. Brain Res.110, 91–97 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shankland, D.L., Rose, J.A., Donniger, C.: The cholinergic nature of the cereal nerve-giant fibre synapse in the sixth abdominal ganglion of the American cockroachPeriplaneta americana (L.). J. Neurobiol.2, 247–262 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spira, M.E., Parnas, I., Bergmann, F.: Histological and telectrophysiological studies on the giant axons of the cockroachPeriplaneta americana. J. exp. Biol.50, 629–634 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Werman, R.: A review-criteria for identification of a central nervous system transmitter. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.18, 745–766 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, S.H., Schrier, B.K., Farber, J.L., Thompson, E.J., Rosenberg, R.N. Blume, A.J., Nirenberg, M.W.: Markers for gene expression in cultured cells from the nervous system. J. biol. Chem.247, 3159–3169 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technion Faculty of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Biology, Gutwirth Building, Technion City, Haifa, Israel

    D. Dagan & Y. Same

Authors
  1. D. Dagan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. Same
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We are grateful to Mrs. Naomi Bleich for technical help. This research was supported in part by a grant from the United States — Israel Binational Science Foundation 625, Jerusalem, Israel, to D.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dagan, D., Same, Y. Evidence for the cholinergic nature of cockroach giant fibers: use of specific degeneration. J. Comp. Physiol. 126, 157–160 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666369

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666369

Keywords

Search

Navigation