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Journal of Experimental Biology 107,451-464 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

Graded Potentials and Spiking in Single Units of the Oval Organ, a Mechanoreceptor in the Lobster Ventilatory System: II. Individuality of the Three Afferent Fibres

B.M.H. BUSH ¹ and V.M. PASZTOR ²

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Park Row, Bristol BS1 5LS
² Department of Biology, McGill University 1205 Avenue Dr. Penfield, Montreal, Canada H3A 1B1

1. The peripheral dendritic arborizations of sensory units X, Y and Z of the oval organ have similar branching patterns. All three permeate the whole array of connective tissue strands without apparent regionalization or specialization.

2. The analogue components of sensory responses elicited in fibres X, Y and Z when the connective tissue array is stretched show considerable diversity: fibre Z has a higher threshold than X and Y; the dynamic peak values of X and Y saturate at pulls mid-range for Z; X, Y and Z form a spectrum of increasing adaptation.

3. Application of TTX abolishes impulse generation in fibre X earlier than in fibre Y, indicating diversity in spike initiating mechanisms from one fibre type to another.

4. Fibre X only spikes between certain limits of membrane depolarization. Usually the response includes one to five spikes which occur during the dynamic phase of a trapezoidal stretch stimulus.

5. Fibre Y fires throughout the stimulus duration for pulls of moderate amplitude and velocity. Spiking inactivation and a low maximum firing frequency (approximately 80 s^-1) limit the range of length sensitivity in fibre Y.

6. Fibre Z attains higher firing frequencies than either X or Y (approximately 110 s^-1). The initial burst frequency (velocity dependent) may equal the firing rate of the dynamic peak.

Key words: Mechanoreceptor, receptor potentials, impulse patterns, Crustacea

Submitted on March 14, 1983
Accepted on June 24, 1983

This article has been cited by other articles:

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