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The circadian rhythm in the eye ofAplysia

Effects of low calcium and high magnesium

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The frequency of spontaneous compound action potentials (CAP) from the optic nerve of the eye ofAplysia is dramatically increased in zero calcium artificial sea water (ASW) but the circadian rhythm in this activity persists.

  2. 2.

    In high magnesium, >2.7 × normal, the spontaneous CAP activity is blocked. This effect is a result of decreased membrane responsiveness and not due to blocking chemical synapses.

  3. 3.

    In low calcium and high magnesium (at levels where molluscan chemical synapses are blocked) the spontaneous CAP activity and the circadian rhythm are clearly expressed. The average period for the rhythm is 23.3 hours, which is not different from the period in normal ASW.

  4. 4.

    These results suggest the neuronal oscillators that produce the circadian rhythm have axons directly in the optic nerve or they are electrontonically coupled to axons in the optic nerve, and that chemical synapses are not necessary for expression of the circadian rhythm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences and Neurobiology Research Center, State University of New York at Albany, USA

    Jon W. Jacklet

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  1. Jon W. Jacklet
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This research was supported by NIH grant NS 08443.

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Jacklet, J.W. The circadian rhythm in the eye ofAplysia . J. Comp. Physiol. 87, 329–338 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00695267

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00695267

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