title: Co-Activation of Antagonistic Motoneurons as a Mechanism of High-Speed Hydraulic Inflation of Prey Capture Appendages in the Pteropod Mollusk Clione limacina.
abstract: The predatory pteropod mollusk Clione limacina catches its prey by using specialized oral appendages called buccal cones. Eversion and elongation of buccal cones is a hydraulic phenomenon. In the cerebral ganglia, two groups of motoneurons have been identified that underlie functionally opposite movements of buccal cones: extrusion and retraction. We suggest that the remarkably rapid inflation of buccal cones (50 ms) is achieved through initial co-activation of antagonistic neurons, which presumably produces high pressure in the head hemocoel prior to buccal cone extrusion. The subsequent sudden inhibition of retractor motoneuron activity results in a very rapid and powerful inflation of the buccal cones. Cerebral interneurons that evoke co-activation are described.
authors: T P
authors: TP
authors: Norekian
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Satterlie