Abstract
In order to explore the functions of the peripheral neurons in the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the gastropods, Aplysia and Lymnaea, we investigated the correlation between peripheral neuronal activities and movements of the digestive tract. In Aplysia, movements of the gizzard were distinguished into two types of contraction: a large constriction of the whole gizzard following bursting activities of the neurons on the gizzard and EJP-like potentials in the musculature; and a small contraction of a restricted part of the gizzard following a slow muscle potential. When TTX was applied to isolated gizzard preparation, the bursting activities were blocked and the EJP-like potentials and the subsequent constriction disappeared, whereas the slow potentials in the musculature and partial contractions appeared to be unaffected. Therefore, it was suggested that the peripheral neurons on the gizzard were motor neurons for constriction, while the partial contraction was thought to be myogenic. In Lymnaea, we recorded periodic bursting activities in the enteric nervous system that were followed by EJP-like potentials and gastrointestinal movements. The results show that, in both species, there may exist motor neurons in the ENS that are responsible for neurogenic movements of the digestive tract.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ajimal, G. S., Ram, J. L. (1981) Aplysia gastrointestinal tract motility: spontaneous activity and pharmacological sensitivity. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 68, 133–144.
Austin, T., Weiss, S., Lukowiak, K. (1983) FMRFamide effects on spontaneous and induced contractions of the anterior gizzard in Aplysia. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 61, 949–953.
Cajal, S. R. (1893) Sur les ganglions et plexus nerveux de l’intestin. C. R. Soc. Boil. 45, 217–223.
De Jong-Brink, M., Goldschmeding, J. T. (1982) Endocrine and nervous regulation of female reproductive activity in the gonad and the albumin gland of Lymnaea stagnalis. In: Lever, J., Boer, H. H. (eds) Molluscan Neuro-endocrinology, North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, pp. 126–131.
Dickens, E. J., Hirst, G. D. S., Tomita, T. (1999) Identification of rhythmically active cells in guineapig stomach. J. Physiol. 514, 515–531.
Eales, N. B. (1921) LMBC Memoirs XXIV, Aplysia. Liverpool Biological Society, Liverpool.
Horiguchi, K., Semple, G. S. A., Sanders, K. M., Ward, S. M. (2001) Distribution of pacemaker function through the tunica muscularis of the canine gastric antrum. J. Physiol. 537, 237–250.
Ito, S., Kurokawa, M. (2007) Coordinated peripheral neuronal activities among the different regions of the digestive tract in Aplysia. Zool. Sci. 24, 714–722.
Kurokawa, M., Tsunoo, A. (1988) Parasympathetic depression of vas deferens contraction in the guinea-pig involves adenosine receptors. J. Physiol. 407, 135–153.
Lloyd, P. E., Kupfermann, I., Weiss, K. R. (1988) Central peptidergic neurons regulate gut motility in Aplysia. J. Neurophysiol. 59, 1613–1626.
Perry, S. J., Straub, V. A., Kemenes, G., Santama, N., Worster, B. M., Burke, J. F., Benjamin, P. R. (1998) Neural modulation of gut motility by myomoduline peptides and acetylcholine in the snail Lymnaea. J. Neurophysiol. 79, 2460–2474.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (16570066 to M.K.) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. Contribution no. 735 from the Shimoda Marine Research Center.
Rights and permissions
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
About this article
Cite this article
Kurokawa, M., Ito, S. & Okamoto, T. Activities and Functions of Peripheral Neurons in the Enteric Nervous System of Aplysia and Lymnaea. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 59 (Suppl 2), 65–71 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1556/ABiol.59.2008.Suppl.10
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/ABiol.59.2008.Suppl.10