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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by ROBERTS, B. L. Articles by RUSSELL, I. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by ROBERTS, B. L. Articles by RUSSELL, I. J.

Journal of Experimental Biology 57,435-448 (1972)
Published by Company of Biologists 1972

The Activity of Lateral-Line Efferent Neurones in Stationary and Swimming Dogfish

B. L. ROBERTS ¹ and I. J. RUSSELL ²

¹ The Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth
² Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge; School of Biology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Sussex

1. The activity of efferent neurones innervating lateral-line organs on the body of dogfish was followed by recording from filaments of cranial nerve X in 41 decerebrate preparations.

2. The efferent nerves were not spontaneously active.

3. Tactile stimulation to the head and body, vestibular stimulation and noxious chemical stimulation were followed by activity of the efferent nerves.

4. In contrast, natural stimulation of lateral-line organs (water jets) did not reflexly evoke discharges from the efferent fibres.

5. Reflex efferent responses were still obtained to mechanical stimulation even after the lateral-line organs had been denervated.

6. Electrical stimulation of cranial nerves innervating lateral-lines organs was followed by reflex activity of the efferent fibres. But similar stimuli applied to other cranial nerves were equally effective in exciting the efferent system.

7. Vigorous movements of the fish, involving the white musculature, were preceded and accompanied by activity of the efferent fibres which persisted as long as the white muscle fibres were contracting.

8. Rhythmical swimming movements were accompanied by a few impulses in the efferent fibres grouped in bursts at the same frequency as the swimming movements.

9. It is concluded that the efferent neurones cannot contribute to a feedback regulatory system because they are not excited by natural stimulation of the lateral-line sense organs. The close correlation found between efferent activity and body movement suggests that the efferent system might operate in a protective manner to prevent the sense organs from being over-stimulated when the fish makes vigorous movements.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. M. Tomchik and Z. Lu Modulation of Auditory Signal-to-Noise Ratios by Efferent Stimulation J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2006; 95(6): 3562 - 3570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Weeg, B. R. Land, and A. H. Bass Vocal Pathways Modulate Efferent Neurons to the Inner Ear and Lateral Line J. Neurosci., June 22, 2005; 25(25): 5967 - 5974. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Cullen and L. B. Minor Semicircular Canal Afferents Similarly Encode Active and Passive Head-On-Body Rotations: Implications for the Role of Vestibular Efference J. Neurosci., May 30, 2002; (2002) 20026418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Bell An efference copy which is modified by reafferent input Science, October 23, 1981; 214(4519): 450 - 453. [Abstract] [PDF]