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Proprioceptor organs in the antennae of decapoda crustacea

I. Physiology of a chordotonal organ spanning two joints in the spiny lobsterPanulirus interruptus (Randall)

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Summary

In the antennae of the spiny lobsterPanulirus interruptus (Randall), two major distal joints share a single chordotonal organ. This complex proprioceptor, termed the J2–J3 chordotonal organ, has two groups of bipolar sensory neurons, each associated with a separate elastic strand. Measurements indicate that one of these elastic strands (St. 1) is elongated and relaxed by movements of the third segment; the other (St. 2) by movements of both the third segment and the flagellum. Electrophysiological recordings reveal that most neurons associated with St. 1 are specific, signalling only movements (flexion and extension) of segment three. On the other hand, neurons associated with St. 2 are not segment specific, responding to movements of both segment three and the flagellum. No phasic units specifically signalling movements (flexion and extension) of the flagellum have been found. Small tonic units found in the St. 1 nerve are specific for segment three position, and those of the St. 2 nerve are specific for flagellar position.

The axons of the St. 1 nerve number 142 ± 23 while those of St. 2 number 122 ± 20. Of these, about 70% are less than 12 μm in diameter. Nearly all units larger than 12 μm are movement sensitive. About 10% of the axons of these nerves are giants, ranging from 30 to 62 μm in diamter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

    H. Bernard Hartman & W. David Austin

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  1. H. Bernard Hartman
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  2. W. David Austin
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Additional information

The authors thank Makiko Suda for technical assistance, and Drs. D. A. Eagles, D. M. Maynard, and E. G. Boettiger for helpful criticism of the manuscript. This work was supported by N.I.H. Grant 5R01NS07837 to H. B. H., and N. S. F. Grant GU2591 to the University of Iowa.

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Bernard Hartman, H., David Austin, W. Proprioceptor organs in the antennae of decapoda crustacea. J. Comp. Physiol. 81, 187–202 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696632

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696632

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