title: [Correlation of the sizes of Mauthner neurons with the preference in the goldfish to turn rightwards or leftwards].
abstract: Using the three-dimensional computer reconstruction from serial histological sections, the morphology of right and left Mauthner cells (MC) was examined in the goldfish fry which demonstrated clearly pronounced preference to turn to the right or to the left in a narrow water channel or which did not show any asymmetry in choosing the side of turning. Visually, the goldfish with left-sided motor asymmetry seemed to possess larger right MC, while in the goldfish with right-sided motor asymmetry left MC were larger. In fish with symmetric proportion of right or left turnings, the sizes of MC did not differ. Quantitative evaluation of MC in fish showing the preference of turning side has revealed significant differences in the sizes of cell bodies, axon hillock and axons of MC, located contralaterally in medulla oblongata. Analysis of a statistic relations between functional (motor) and morphological asymmetry of MC cell body in the same fish indicated the existence of a stable correlation (0,69) between them. Taking into consideration that MC initiate unilateral body turn during free swimming of fish, it may be concluded that the larger size of neuron predetermines its more frequent natural activation in comparison with the contrlateral neuron, that has smaller size.
authors.forename: G Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Mikhaĭlova
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Pavlik
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Tiras
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moshkov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D006054:Goldfish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013550:Swimming