QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BAILEY, D. F. Articles by LAVERACK, M. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BAILEY, D. F. Articles by LAVERACK, M. S.

Journal of Experimental Biology 44,131-148 (1966)
Published by Company of Biologists 1966

Aspects of the Neurophysiology of Buccinum Undatum L. (Gastropoda) : I. Central Responses to Stimulation of the Osphradium

D. F. BAILEY ¹ and M. S. LAVERACK ²

¹ Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, Scotland; Pharmacological Research Department, Pfizer Ltd., Sandwich, Kent
² Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, Scotland

1. Recordings have been made from various central neurones of Buccinum undatum, the common whelk, particularly in response to peripheral stimulation of the osphradium.

2. These central responses show that the osphradium is sensitive to the application of a restricted range of chemical stimuli, but insensitive to mechanical stimulation with suspended particulate matter.

3. The most pronounced central activity was seen in response to the addition of a sea-water extract of Mytilus edulis. This animal is one normally preyed upon by Buccinum. The synthetic chemicals most closely mimicking this effect were glutamic and aspartic acids, which were effective at low-threshold concentrations. Other chemicals of 4-6 carbon-atom chains with terminal carboxyl groups were effective stimuli and it therefore appears that the dicarboxylic nature of the effective amino acids plays a major part in the stimulatory process.

4. Intracellular recordings indicate that the peripheral input from osphradial chemoreceptors and mantle mechanoreceptors may be either excitatory, inhibitory or without effect on central neurones.