SHORT COMMUNICATION INTERNEURONES MEDIATING THE ESCAPE REACTION OF THE MARINE MOLLUSC CLIONE LIMACINA

• Main Authors: I. Arshavsky, T. G. Deliagina, G. N. Orlovsky, Yu. V. Panchin, L. B. Popova
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: Clione limacina
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.124.7790; http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/164/1/307.pdf

Neural mechanisms underlying the escape reaction have been extensively studied for over 20 years in many species of animals belonging to several different phyla (for a review, see Eaton, 1984). Among molluscs, the escape reaction has been most thoroughly studied in Tritonia. In this animal a strong mechanical or chemical stimulus applied to the posterior part of the body evokes swimming (for a review, see Getting, 1983; Getting and Dekin, 1985). Electrophysiological experiments on the isolated nervous system revealed that neurones constituting the central pattern generator (CPG) for swimming were strongly depolarized in response to sensory stimulation and that this depolarization caused rhythmic activity in the CPG. However, attempts to identify command neurones mediating the escape reaction in Tritonia have failed (Getting, 1983). This paper deals with the escape reaction in another gastropod mollusc, Clione limacina (subclass Opistobranchia, order Pterapoda). We have been able to identify some of the interneurones involved in this animal's escape reaction. Clione swims using rhythmic movements of two wings, which are controlled by the