Modulation of a respiratory motor program by peptide-secreting neurons in Aplysia.
Respiratory pumping of the gill and siphon of Aplysia californica is a fixed-action pattern coordinated by a defined set of interneurons and motor neurons. In semi-intact preparations of the gill and siphon innervated by the abdominal ganglion, respiratory pumping is facilitated for a prolonged period following activation of the peptidergic bag cell neurons. The induced changes in contractile behavior of the gill and siphon correlate with cell-specific actions of the bag cells on motor neurons regulating these organs. Our results suggest that peptidergic neurons can alter the expression of a fixed pattern of behavior by modulating the excitability of motor neurons controlling the behavior.
Schaefer
M
M
Brownell
P H
PH
D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005880:Gills / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
D010455:Peptides