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First published online May 18, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 2015-2024 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02240

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Activation of a sensorimotor pathway in response to a water temperature drop in a teleost fish

E. H. van den Burg^1,*, M. Verhoye², R. R. Peeters², J. Meek¹, G. Flik¹ and A. Van der Linden²

¹ Department of Organismal Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
² Bio-Imaging Lab, Campus Groenenborger, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: E.vandenBurg{at}science.ru.nl)

Accepted 27 March 2006

When common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., experience a rapid temperature drop, the cerebral blood volume is strongly reduced to dampen the temperature drop in the brain. Simultaneously, the preoptic area and pituitary gland are activated to launch whole-body adaptive responses. However, the preferred reaction of fish to a temperature change is an escape reaction, which implies activation of a sensorimotor pathway. Here, we used blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD)- and cerebral blood volume (CBV)-weighted functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify a sensorimotor pathway, during a 10°C temperature drop in common carp. Transient activation was observed in the region where the sensory root of the trigeminal nerve enters the brain, and in the valvula cerebelli. In both regions, metabolic activity increased (increased deoxyhemoglobin content demonstrated by a decreased BOLD signal) within 30 s after the onset of the temperature drop, peaked after 2-3 min, and then decreased, even though the temperature continued to drop for another 2 min. These brain structures appear to respond to temperature change, rather than to the absolute temperature. Thus, during a temperature drop, the sensorimotor pathway consisting of the trigeminal nerve, the primary sensory trigeminal nucleus, the valvula cerebelli and some motornuclei, is active, in line with perception of temperature change in the buccal cavity, leading to motor activity for escape. This pathway operates in parallel to an acclimation pathway, which involves the preoptic area to pituitary gland pathway.

Key words: fMRI, temperature, ectothermy, teleosts, brain, common carp, Cyprinus carpio

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