title: 31P-NMR study on effects of electric shock on swimming leeches, Hirudo medicinalis.
abstract: 1. We evaluated the effect of electric shock on swimming leeches by measuring changes in high-energy phosphate metabolism using in vivo 31P-NMR. 2. Leeches electrically stimulated during swimming showed anodal galvanotaxis and stopped swimming with stimulation at strong current. 3. Comparison of the concentrations of high-energy phosphate metabolites before and after electric shock using 31P-NMR revealed a marked decrease in beta-ATP and an increase in that of Pi. 4. Electric shock apparently induces excessive muscle fatigue in leeches, resulting in transient paralysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chichibu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004560:Electricity; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D007865:Leeches / Q000502:physiology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes