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Journal of Experimental Biology 55,409-420 (1971)
Published by Company of Biologists 1971

An Electrophysiological Study of Parapodial Innervation Patterns in Aplysia Fasciata

GEORGE M. HUGHES ¹

¹ Institut de Biologie Marine, Arcachon, and Stazione Zoologica, Naples

1. Studies have been made of the patterns of parapodial innervation in Aplysia fasciata and A. depilans using electrophysiological methods.

2. Sensory fibres are chiefly found in the main parapodial nerves. The areas innervated by these nerves overlap somewhat and such overlapping extends to the branches of individual parapodial nerves.

3. Responses to mechanical stimulation of the parapodial surface gives rise to varying sizes of spike, the smaller spikes being usually more slowly adapting, the larger being highly phasic.

4. Although the general pattern of innervation is common to all specimens there are wide variations in detail.

5. Electrical stimulation of parapodial nerves produces mechanical contractions which are associated with responses in some of the sensory fibres. Usually the afferent units which are stimulated in this way have sensory fields within overlapping areas supplied by the two branches. Such proprioceptive feedback responses usually declined with repetition.

Note:
Usual address: Research Unit for Comparative Animal Respiration, The University, Bristol BS8 1UG.