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Peripherally and centrally generated action potentials in neurons with both a motor and a neurosecretory function in the insectRhodnius prolixus

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Summary

This paper describes the electrical activity recorded extracellularly from the axons innervating the ventral abdominal intersegmental muscles ofRhodnius prolixus. These muscles go through a cycle of growth and degeneration in each larval stage, and the axons innervating the muscles have been shown previously to make neuromuscular contact with the muscles and also to be neurosecretory.

  1. 1.

    Spontaneously occurring centrally generated action potentials travel along the motor nerve to the muscles both when the muscles are fully developed and when they are degenerate.

  2. 2.

    Spontaneously occurring peripherally generated action potentials travel along the motor nerve to the central nervous system when the muscles are degenerate.

  3. 3.

    Irregular, regular and bursting patterns of centrally generated activity occur.

  4. 4.

    It is suggested that the peripherally generated action potentials are being conducted antidromically along the motor nerve.

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Author notes

  1. R. Anwyl

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, G128QQ, Glasgow

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Comparative Physiology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham

    R. Anwyl & L. H. Finlayson

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  1. R. Anwyl
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  2. L. H. Finlayson
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We are grateful to the Science Research Council for financial assistance.

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Anwyl, R., Finlayson, L.H. Peripherally and centrally generated action potentials in neurons with both a motor and a neurosecretory function in the insectRhodnius prolixus . J. Comp. Physiol. 91, 135–145 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694269

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694269

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