Behavioral evidence and supporting electrophysiological observations for electroreception in the blind cave salamander, Proteus anguinus (Urodela).
Conditioning experiments revealed that Proteus perceives a back-and-forth moving (approximately 1 Hz) direct-current field and its polarity. Minimum behavioral thresholds occurred at a current density of 0.15 microA/cm2, corresponding to a voltage gradient of 0.5 mV/cm. Recordings from afferent nerve fibers showed that ampullary electroreceptors in Proteus respond as do other nonteleost receptors, i.e. with an increase in discharge rate to cathodal current and a decrease to anodal current (threshold: approximately 1 mV/cm).
Roth
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A
Laboratoire Souterrain du CNRS, Moulis, France.
Schlegel
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P
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014562:Caudata / Q000502:physiology*