title: Adaptation properties of two types of sensory neurons in a spider mechanoreceptor organ.
abstract: The VS-3 slit-sense organs of the tropical wandering spider Cupiennius salei contain two types of mechanosensory neurons with similar morphology but different adaptation properties. We measured the changes in membrane potential produced by mechanical stimulation and by electric current stimulation in a large number of neurons of both types. No significant differences were found between the passive membrane properties of the two groups, but there were significant differences in the extent and time course of receptor potential adaptation between the two types of neurons. These data, combined with the responses to suprathreshold electrical stimuli, indicate that adaptational differences exist at several stages in these neurons but that active membrane conductances dominate the overall behavior. The passive membrane measurements also indicate that effective voltage clamp of the receptor current at the tips of the sensory dendrites is possible in these neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4H7, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juusola
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D013112:Spiders
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D002118:Calcium