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Journal of Experimental Biology 88,219-238 (1980)
Published by Company of Biologists 1980

Excitable Epithelial Cells in the Bioluminescent Scales of a Polynoid Worm; Effects of Various Ions on the Action Potentials and on the Excitation-Luminescence Coupling

ANDRÉ BILBAUT ¹

¹ Université Claude Bernard, Laboratoire d'Histologie et Biologie Tissulaire, 43, Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France

The bioluminescent scales of the polynoid worm Acholoe astericola are covered with photogenic and non-photogenic excitable epithelial cells which are electrically coupled. The luminescent activity is intracellular and occurs in brief flashes. All the epithelial cells produce non-overshooting action potentials which have been shown to be Na-dependent. In the photogenic epithelial cells (photocytes) the increase of the stimulus strength elicits another action potential specifically correlated with a flash. This membrane response begins by a fast overshooting Ca-dependent spike potential followed by a Na-dependent secondary depolarization. The excitation-luminescence coupling is dependent on Ca entry into the photocytes.