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An endogenously bursting neuron in the gastropod mollusc,Helisoma trivolvis

Characterization of activityin vivo

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Summary

Intracellular records were obtained from the identified neuron, Pal-B, in a relatively intact preparation ofHelisoma trivolvis (Figs. 1 and 2). This neuron displayed a characteristic patterned activity.

  1. 1.

    The activity in Pal-B consists of bursts of action potentials alternating with periods of quiescence (Figs. 4, 6, and 9).

  2. 2.

    The characteristic burst pattern is endogenous (Fig. 4).

  3. 3.

    The major portion of the variability in burst pattern observed in Pal-B is accounted for by synaptic inputs to this cell (Figs. 6, 8, and 9).

  4. 4.

    The bursting pattern in Pal-B can be modulated by tactile, vibratory, osmotic, and possibly photic stimuli.

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We are grateful to Dr. R. Llinas for his useful comments and his suggestion of the high magnesium experiment. We also thank Drs. J. J. Kollros and R.D. Milkman for their helpful suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript. Finally, we thank Dr. F. Strumwasser for comments on the final manuscript and for pointing out the unpublished work of Jacklet (personal communication) in which R 15 ofAplysia was shown to have a relatively normal bursting patternin situ. This research was supported by PHS grant 1 RO1 NS09696-01 (awarded to S.B.K.) and, in part, by University Development Grant GU2591 from NSF.

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Kater, S.B., Kaneko, C.R.S. An endogenously bursting neuron in the gastropod mollusc,Helisoma trivolvis . J. Comp. Physiol. 79, 1–14 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693614

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693614

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