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 HISANO, N. Articles by KUWABARA, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by HISANO, N. Articles by KUWABARA, M.

Journal of Experimental Biology 57,651-660 (1972)
Published by Company of Biologists 1972

Photosensitive Neurones in the Marine Pulmonate Mollusc Onchidium Verruculatum

NOZOMU HISANO ¹, HIDEKI TATEDA ¹, and MASUTARO KUWABARA ¹

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University

1. Giant photosensitive neurones were found in the sub- and supra-oesophageal ganglia of the marine pulmonate mollusc Onchidium verruculatum.

2. Some were photo-excitative neurones; spikes appeared or their frequency increased in response to light stimuli. The others were photo-inhibitive neurones in which disappearance of spikes or decrease in their frequency was noted in response to light.

3. Photosensitive neurones were distinguished according to whether or not they were ‘primary’ neurones, i.e. responded directly to a minute light spot. Three primary neurones and three secondary neurones were detected among the photoexcitative neurones. There were four primary photo-inhibitive neurones. It was not determined whether a neurone was primary or not.

4. An inverse effect of light on one of the primary photo-excitative neurones, Es-i, occasionally occurred after illumination of long duration. A light stimuls which had previously excited the neurone, inhibited subsequent spontaneous discharge.

5. The inhibitory effect of light on one of the primary photo-inhibitive neurones was overcome by some excitatory process during illumination of long duration or after repeated light stimuli.