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Journal of Experimental Biology 104,231-246 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

Nerve Net Pacemakers and Phases of Behaviour in the Sea Anemone Calliactis Parasitica

IAN D. McFARLANE ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX

Bursts of through-conducting nerve net (TCNN) pulses, 20-45 min apart, were recorded from Calliactis attached to shells. Within 15-25 min of the anemones being detached the TCNN bursts suddenly became more frequent (only 4-11 min apart). Such bursts continued for several hours if re-attachment was prevented. In an attached anemone simultaneous electrical stimulation of the TCNN and ectodermal slow system (SS1) with 20-30 shocks at one every 5 s also led to more frequent TCNN bursts, whether or not detachment took place. If, however, the anemone remained attached, the intervals between bursts returned to the normal resting duration after about 90 min. In all cases the decay of the 4-11 min interval TCNN bursts involved a reduction in pulse number, not an increase in burst interval. Partial activation of the TCNN pacemakers followed stimulation of the SS1 alone. It is suggested that in sea anemones the change from one behavioural phase to another is associated with a change in the patterned output of nerve net pacemakers.

Key words: Pacemakers, nerve net, sea anemone

Submitted on November 9, 1982
Accepted on January 31, 1983