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Journal of Experimental Biology 51,347-361 (1969)
Published by Company of Biologists 1969

Central Neuronal Response to the Activation of Osmoreceptors in the Osphradium of Aplysia

J. STINNAKRE ¹ and L. TAUC ¹

¹ Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie Cellulaire, Centre d'Ètudes de Physiologie Nerveuse du C.N.R.S., Paris, France and Institut de Biologie marine, Arcachon, France

Correspondence to: Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie Cellulaire, 4, avenue Gordon Bennett, Paris France

1. The function of the osphradium in Aplysia has been studied using an isolated preparation including the osphradium, the branchial nerve and the visceral ganglion. The experimental chamber was constructed in such a way that all contact was avoided between the solution bathing the internal face of the osphradium and that bathing its external face.

2. A dilution of the sea water bathing the external face of the osphradiurn provoked a marked inhibition (ILD) in an identifiable neurone (R15) in the visceral ganglion, which inhibition is accompanied by a diminution in membrane resistance. The dilution of the sea water was the only stimulus found to have a clear and constant effect, and a dilution of only 5% was sufficient to produce a discernible inhibition in R15.

3. Hyper-concentrated solutions were without effect. However, following exposure to a hyper-concentrated solution the return to normal sea water caused an inhibition in R15.

4. The effect of diluted sea water was eliminated when sucrose was added to the diluted sea water in order to compensate for the changes in osmotic pressure due to the dilution.

5. It was concluded that the inhibition observed in R15 is the result of excitation of osmoreceptors situated in the osphradium. These receptors, which are quite sensitive to a diminution in osmotic pressure, do not appear to be excited by even a marked increase in osmotic pressure.