Document Detail


Species-specific behavioral patterns correlate with differences in synaptic connections between homologous mechanosensory neurons.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20135128     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We characterized the behavioral responses of two leech species, Hirudo verbana and Erpobdella obscura, to mechanical skin stimulation and examined the interactions between the pressure mechanosensory neurons (P cells) that innervate the skin. To quantify behavioral responses, we stimulated both intact leeches and isolated body wall preparations from the two species. In response to mechanical stimulation, Hirudo showed local bending behavior, in which the body wall shortened only on the side of the stimulation. Erpobdella, in contrast, contracted both sides of the body in response to touch. To investigate the neuronal basis for this behavioral difference, we studied the interactions between P cells. Each midbody ganglion has four P cells; each cell innervates a different quadrant of the body wall. Consistent with local bending, activating any one P cell in Hirudo elicited polysynaptic inhibitory potentials in the other P cells. In contrast, the P cells in Erpobdella had excitatory polysynaptic connections, consistent with the segment-wide contraction observed in this species. In addition, activating individual P cells caused asymmetrical body wall contractions in Hirudo and symmetrical body wall contractions in Erpobdella. These results suggest that the different behavioral responses in Erpobdella and Hirudo are partly mediated by interactions among mechanosensory cells.
Authors:
Michael J Baltzley; Quentin Gaudry; William B Kristan
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Publication Detail:
Type:  In Vitro; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2010-02-05
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology     Volume:  196     ISSN:  1432-1351     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Comp. Physiol. A Neuroethol. Sens. Neural. Behav. Physiol.     Publication Date:  2010 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-22     Completed Date:  2010-05-12     Revised Date:  2013-05-31    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101141792     Medline TA:  J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  181-97     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 3119 Pacific Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, #0357, La Jolla, CA 92093-0357, USA. mjbaltzley@smcm.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Action Potentials / physiology
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Behavior, Animal / physiology*
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
Leeches / physiology
Mechanoreceptors / classification,  physiology*
Mechanotransduction, Cellular
Movement / physiology
Neural Inhibition / physiology
Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
Physical Stimulation / methods
Skin / innervation
Species Specificity
Synapses / physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
MH43396/MH/NIMH NIH HHS; NS07229/NS/NINDS NIH HHS; NS35336/NS/NINDS NIH HHS; R01 MH043396-21/MH/NIMH NIH HHS
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