Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electrophysiological investigation of medullary neurons connected with lateral line organs of the catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus)

  • Published:
Neurophysiology Aims and scope

Abstract

Unit responses in the acoustic-lateral region of the medulla to electrical and mechanical stimulation of the lateral line organs were investigated in acute experiments on curarized catfish. Of the total number of neurons 70% possessed spontaneous activity. An electrical stimulus evoked a tonic response both in spontaneously active and in "silent" cells. Three main types of firing pattern of the neurons were distinguished: fast-adapting, slow-adapting, and grouped. As regards the relation of the neurons to polarity of the stimulus they were subdivided into two groups. The thresholds of unit responses to electrical stimulation varied considerably: from 2.5·10−9 to 5·10−12 A/mm2. The effect of intensity of the electrical stimulation on unit responses in the medulla is analyzed. The precise dependence of on- and off-responses of each neuron on stimulus intensity of any polarity was determined. The neurons were shown to be sensitive to both electrical and mechanical stimuli. It is postulated that this phenomenon is due to convergence of impulses from electrical and mechanical receptors of the lateral line on the neurons. The properties of the central neurons are compared with those of the peripheral electroreceptor system in catfish.

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

Literature cited

  1. G. N. Akoev, N. P. Alekseev, and O. B. Il'inskii, "Current views on electroreception," Uspekhi Fiziol. Nauk,2, 123 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  2. G. N. Akoev and O. B. Il'inskii, "Some functional features distinguishing the electroreceptors of Lorenzini's ampullas of the Black Sea skates," Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR,205, 499 (1972).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. N. N. Disler, Sense Organs of the Lateral Line System and Their Importance in the Behavior of Fishes [in Russian], Izd. AN SSSR, Moscow (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. V. L. Bennett, "Comparative physiology: electric organs," Ann. Rev. Physiol.,32, 471 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. V. L. Bennett, "Electroreception," in: W. S. Hoar and D. J. Randall (editors), Fish Physiology, Vol. 5, Academic Press (1971), pp. 493–574.

  6. S. Dijkgraaf, "The functioning and significance of the lateral-line organs," Biol. Rev.,38, 51 (1963).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. S. Dijkgraaf, "Electroreception in the catfishAmiurus nebulosus," Experientia,24, 185 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. P. S. Enger and T. Szabo, "Activity of central neurons involved in electroreception in some weakly electric fish (Gymnotidae)," J. Neurophysiol.,28, 800 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  9. S. Hagiwara, K. Kusano, and K. Negishi, "Physiological properties of electroreceptors of some gymnotids," J. Neurophysiol.,25, 430 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. C. J. Herrick, "The cranial nerves and cutaneous sense organs of the North American siluroid fishes," J. Comp. Neurol.,11, 177 (1901).

    Google Scholar 

  11. H. W. Lissmann and K. E. Machin, "Electric receptors in a non-electric fish (Clarias)," Nature,199, 88 (1963).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. C. Nicholson, R. Llinas, and W. Precht, "Neural elements of the cerebellum in elasmobranchfishes: structural and functional characteristics," in: R. Llinas (editor), Neurobiology of Cerebellar Evolution and Development, AMA Educ. Res. Found., Chicago (1969), 11, pp. 215–243.

    Google Scholar 

  13. A. A. Pearson, "The acustico-lateral nervous system in fishes," J. Comp. Neurol.,64, 235 (1936).

    Google Scholar 

  14. R. C. Peters and R. J. A. Buwalda, "Frequency response of the electroreceptors (small pit organs) of the catfishIctalurus nebulosus LeS.," J. Comp. Physiol.,79, 29 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  15. A. Roth, "Electroreception in the catfishAmiurus nebulosus," Z. vergl. Physiol.,61, 196 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. Roth, "Electrische Sinnesorgane bein ZwergwelsIctalurus nebulosus (Amiurus nebulosus)," Z. vergl. Physiol.,65, 368 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  17. A. Roth, "Zur Functionsweise der Elektrorezeptoren in der Haut von Welsen (Ictalurus). DerEinfluss der Ionen im Susswasser," Z. vergl. Physiol.,75, 303 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  18. A. Roth, "Wozu dienen die Elektrorezeptoren der Welse?," J. Comp. Physiol.,79, 113 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  19. T. Szabo, "Activity of peripheral and central neurons involved in electroreception," in: P. Cahn (editor), Lateral Line Detectors, Indiana Univ. Press, Bloomington (1967), pp. 295–312.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Yu. N. Andrianov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. B. Il'inskii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 156–163, March–April, 1973.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Andrianov, Y.N., Il'inskii, O.B. Electrophysiological investigation of medullary neurons connected with lateral line organs of the catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus). Neurophysiology 5, 120–125 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062676

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062676

Keywords

Search

Navigation