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Journal of Experimental Biology 92,255-275 (1981)
Published by Company of Biologists 1981

Physiology of Water Motion Detection in the Medicinal Leech

W. OTTO FRIESEN ¹

¹ Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901, U.S.A.

1. Neuronal activity resulting from stimulation by water waves occurs in ventral nerve cord-body wall preparations of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis. In segmental nerves, this activity consists of afferent compound action potentials with graded amplitudes resulting from simultaneous action potentials in many small sensory axons. Afferent input impinging on one segmental ganglion activates neuronal activity along much of the ventral nerve cord.

2. Previously identified tactile mechanoreceptors are insensitive to low-amplitude wave stimulation. Touch-cell impulse activity can be evoked by moderate or strong wave stimulation, but these impulses appear to arise near the cell body, not from the peripheral receptor endings.

3. The transduction sites for wave stimulation are localized at or very near the segmental sensilla. Because of their location and modality the receptors were named ‘sensillar movement receptors’ (SMR).

4. S cells (Rohde's fibre) receive suprathreshold excitatory input during SMR activation without concomitant activity in the tactile mechanoreceptors.

5. The annulus erector motor neurones contralateral to the afferent SMR inflow are inhibited by SMR activation. This inhibition is also observed in ganglia adjacent to the ganglion receiving the afferent input and provides a neuronal basis for reflexive smoothing of the leech body wall.

6. Two neurones in the anterior median packet of segmental ganglia receive powerful synaptic input during SMR activation. One, cell 202, receives 10 mV excitatory potentials while the other, cell 201, receives 10 mV inhibitory potentials.

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