The innervation of locust salivary glands

Summary The salivary glands of the locustSchistocerca gregaria are influenced by at least two nerves. The suboesophageal salivary nerve (nerve 7b) is excitatory eliciting copious secretion when active. The prothoracic posterior transverse nerve is also capable of evoking increases in secretion, but only if the innervation from the salivary nerve is present. This is, in part, because activity in the transverse nerve influences the firing of the two suboesophageal salivary neurones that have their axons in the salivary nerve. The effect of the salivary nerve is mimicked by both 5-HT and dopamine, whereas the action of the transverse nerve on the glands is mimicked by the peptides YGGFMRFamide and YGGFLRFamide.Abbreviations 5-HT 5-hydroxytryptamine - cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate - SN salivary neurone - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography     

脊髓损伤的基因治疗

基因治疗脊髓损伤（SCI）既不存在胎儿神经组织移植的组织来源问题,且比外周神经组织移植引起的排异性低,是目前脊髓损伤治疗中最有前途的方法.基因治疗的转基因方式有两种：一是将目的基因直接导入体内靶细胞令其表达;二是将基因在体外导入适当的细胞内,并筛选出高效表达的移植细胞作为转基因中介移植到体内靶组织.不论采用何种方式,将基因导入细胞又可用多种手段实现：如微注射、脂质体等物理或化学手段;利用缺陷病毒作为载体感染细胞的生物学手段.因为用生物学手段转基因的细胞移植方法空间定位明确,所以目前最常采用它作为基因治疗效果的研究.虽然SCI基因治疗目前仍停留在实验探索阶段,一些问题尚待解决,但随着基因治疗技术方法的不断提高,它的临床应用前景可以预见.     

More on myelinated nerve model analysis

An error in a previous analysis of a simple model for myelinated nerve propagation is pointed out and rectified. The model previously chosen does not lend itself to analysis because it has a region ofinfinite negative conductivity which leads to an instability in steady propagation. A model which assumes afinite negative conductivity is examined in detail and a more general results is derived.     

Neural mechanisms governing distribution of cardiac output in an isopod crustacean,Bathynomus doederleini: reflexes controlling the cardioarterial valves

In Bathynomus doederleini all of the cardioarterial valves located at the origin of the lateral arteries are dilated by impulses of lateral cardiac nerves. Tactile stimuli applied to sensillar setae depress impulse activities of the 1st and 5th lateral cardiac nerves. The 1st lateral cardiac nerve controls the valve of the lateral artery which runs to the walking-legs and viscera. The 5th lateral cardiac nerve controls the valve of the lateral artery which runs to the swimmeret muscles. The response indicates that tactile receptor reflexes bring about decreased haemolymph flow to the organs. Augmented swimmeret movements were always accompanied by an increased firing rate in the 5th lateral cardiac nerve. Artificial full protraction of swimmerets simultaneously induced excitation of the 5th lateral cardiac nerve and inhibition of the 1st lateral cardiac nerve. The excitation corresponds to an increase in haemolymph flow to the swimmerets, and the inhibition a decrease in haemolymph flow to walking-legs and viscera. Three kinds of mechanoproprioceptors which were activated by swimmeret movements were found. Two of the mechanoproprioceptors are located at the base of the basipodite. The other mechanoproprioceptor supplies processes to a nerve to the retractor muscles. Activation of three kinds of mechanoproprioceptors, induced by artificial swimmeret protraction, triggered lateral cardiac nerve reflex responses.Abbreviations LA lateral artery - LCN lateral cardiac nerve - RMN nerve to retractor muscles - StR stretch receptor     

Effects of seasonality and moult cycle on the proliferation of nerve cells and on the labelling of ecdysone receptors in an estuarine crab

Decapod crustaceans show proliferation of the nerve cells in the olfactory lobe throughout their lives. However, the regulation of this process is still poorly understood, since it may vary with endogenous and exogenous factors. The objective of the present investigation was to quantify the proliferation of nerve cells and number of nerve cells with ecdysone receptors in the clusters of the central olfactory system in Neohelice granulata, according to moult stages and in different seasons (summer and winter). Three injections of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) were administered to the crabs. Brains were sectioned by microtome and fixed on slides for immunohistochemistry with anti-BrdU and anti-EcR antibodies. The proliferation of nerve cells was higher in winter than in summer, probably because in winter the crabs do not breed and the premoult and postmoult periods are longer. Crabs in postmoult exhibited more BrdU-labelled cells than crabs in premoult or intermoult in winter, because of a greater number of mitoses related to an increase in body size and addition of olfactory receptor neurons. The number of EcR-labelled cells was higher in premoult than in postmoult or intermoult in winter. The proliferation of nerve cells is regulated seasonally and according to moult stages.     

Axoplasm isolation from peripheral nerve

Localized changes in the composition of axonal cytoplasm (axoplasm) are critical for many biological processes, including axon guidance, responses to injury, neurite outgrowth, and axon‐glia interactions. Biochemical and molecular studies of these mechanisms have been heavily focused on in vitro systems because of the difficulty of obtaining subcellular extracts from mammalian tissues in vivo. As in vitro systems might not replicate the in vivo situation, reliable methods of axoplasm extraction from whole nerve would be helpful for mechanistic studies on axons. Here we develop and evaluate a new procedure for preparation of axoplasm from rat peripheral nerve, based on incubation of separated short segements of nerve fascicles in hypotonic medium to separate myelin and lyse nonaxonal structures, followed by extraction of the remaining axon‐enriched material. We show that this new procedure reduces serum and glial cell contamination and facilitates proteomic analyses of axonal contents. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2010     

Ultrastructure of sea urchin tube feet

Summary An analysis of the ultrastructure of the tube feet of three species of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, Arbacia lixula and Echinus esculentus) revealed that the smooth muscle, although known to be cholinoceptive, receives no motor innervation.The muscle fibers are attached to a double layer of circular and longitudinal connective tissue which surrounds the muscle layer and contains numerous bundles of collagen fibers. On its outside, the connective tissue cylinder is invested by a basal lamina of the outer epithelium to which numerous nerve terminals are attached. These are part of a nerve plexus which surrounds the connective tissue cylinder. The plexus itself is an extension of a longitudinal nerve that extends the whole length of the tube foot. It is composed of axons, but nerve cell bodies and synapses are conspicuously lacking, suggesting that the axons and terminals derive from cells of the radial nerve. Processes of the epithelial cells penetrate the nerve plexus and attach to the basal lamina. There is no evidence that the epithelial cells function as sensory cells.On the basis of supporting evidence it is suggested that the transmitter released by the nerve terminals diffuses to the muscle cells over a distance of several microns and in doing so affects the mechanical properties of the connective tissue.Supported by the Sonderforschungsbereich 138 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Sensory interaction with central ‘generators’ during respiration in the dogfish

Summary The activity in sensory and motor nerves of the gills was recorded from selected branches of the vagus nerve in decerebrate dogfish,Scyliorhinus canicula. Vagal motoneuronal activity was observed at the start of the rapid pharyngeal contraction and was followed by sensory nerve activity which preceded the slow expansion phase. Rhythmical vagal motoneuronal activity was still present after all movements had been prevented by curare paralysis although the frequency of the rhythm was higher than in the ventilating fish. Electrical stimulation of vagal sensory fibres had 3 effects on the ventilatory movements. (1) It evoked a reflex contraction of several gill muscles after a latency of about 11 ms. (2) It could reset the respiratory cycle because a stimulus given during expansion delayed the onset of the subsequent contraction. (3) The stimulus could entrain the rhythm if it was given continuously at a frequency close to that of ventilation. The vagal motor rhythm was disrupted by trigeminal nerve stimulation in the paralyzed fish but not if the motor rhythm was being entrained by vagal nerve stimulation. Vagal sensory activity may be important, therefore, in maintaining the stability of the generating circuits.Abbreviation LED Light emitting diode     

Peptidergic innervation of leg muscles of the cockroach,Periplaneta americana (L.), and a possible role in modulation of muscle contraction

FMRFamide-related peptides of insects are particularly important because of their possible function as neurohormones and neuromodulators on a wide variety of tissues. Part of this study was an investigation of the immunofluorescent staining of motor nerves which arise in the metathoracic ganglion, examined in wholemount using an antiserum that recognizes extended -RFamide peptides (generally recognized to be of the FMRFamide family). This antiserum revealed immunochemical staining of numerous cell bodies in the metathoracic ganglion and of axons in peripheral nerve 5, a large nerve which contains both motor and sensory fibres. Axons staining positive for FMRFamide-related peptides were traced in nerve 5 as far as the femur-tibia joint, and into the first (sensory-motor) and third (motor only) ramus of nerve 5. Reverse-phase HPLC with radioimmunoassay revealed a peak of FMRFamide-related peptide activity in nerve 5 that was coincident with a peak found when thoracic ganglia were processed in the same fashion. A physiological assay was devised to test the ability of various non-native peptides to alter the characteristics of contraction of skeletal muscles of the legs. Using neurally evoked contractions of coxal depressor muscles of the metathoracic leg it was determined that several non-native peptides could potentiate muscle contractions.The results of this study suggest that muscles of the legs receive innervation by identifiable, FMRFamide-related peptide-containing neurons and that the release of peptide(s) at the muscle may be yet another method of modulating the mechanics of muscle contraction.Abbreviations D _f fast depressor motor neuron - D _s slow depressor motor neuron - DU M dorsal unpaired median - FaRPs FMRFamide related peptides - FEFe fast extensor of the femur - FFFe fast flexor of the femur - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - FPC fast promotor of the coxa - FPT fast flexor of the pretarsus - I _1–3 inhibitory motor neurons - LMS leucomyosuppressin, N5 nerve 5 - N5r1 first ramus of nerve 5 - PBS phosphate buffered saline - PLCl posterior lateral cluster - RIA radioimmunoassay - SETi slow extensor of the tibia - SFTi slow flexor of the tibia - TFA trifluoroacetic acid - VMCl ventral median cluster     

The activation of diazinon by ganglia of the cockroach Periplaneta americana L. and its action on nerve conduction and cholinesterase activity

When sixth abdominal ganglia of the cockroach Periplaneta americana were irrigated continuously with diazinon solution in situ, its effects on nerve conduction and cholinesterase activity closely resembled those of diazoxon; spontaneous activity and after-discharge increased until conduction was blocked, which happened while some cholinesterase was still uninhibited. The symptoms were only slightly relieved by irrigating ganglia with saline. Though the LD50's of diazinon and diazoxon applied topically to adult male P. americana were similar (2.5 ± 0.33 and 4.5 ± 0.38 μig. per insect), diazoxon was about 300 times more active than diazinon against nerve function and cholinesterase activity in the sixth abdominal ganglion. This is probably because in the nerve preparations contact between the insecticide and the tissues surrounding the nerve cord, which in whole insects convert diazinon, a thionophosphate, into its phosphate analogue diazoxon, a more active anticholinesterase, was minimized. Indeed, taking into account the evidence of workers who previously compared in vitro the anticholinesterase activities of several thionophosphates with those of their phosphate analogues and found the phosphates much more active, the effect of diazinon on cholinesterase activity and nerve function in our experiments was unexpectedly great. By applying diazinon to nerve cords with SKF 525-A, a compound likely to prevent oxidation of diazinon to diazoxon, an attempt was therefore made to decide whether diazinon directly affected nerve conduction or whether the effect resulted either from its conversion to diazoxon within the nerve tissue or from impurities in the diazinon used. Results were inconclusive, for SKF 525-A (p-diethylaminoethyl diphenylpropylacetate hydrochloride) not only failed to prevent the inhibition of cholinesterase, but interfered with the action of both diazinon and diazoxon on nerve conduction, and itself affected nerve conduction when applied alone. The possibility that diazinon is itself a mild anticholinesterase was not excluded. SKF 525-A applied to sixth abdominal ganglia at 2 × 10^-4M blocked conduction from cereal nerves to giant fibres in 50–97 min. and at 4 × 10^-5M decreased the post-synaptic response; applied to giant fibres at 2 × 10^-4M it blocked conduction in 90–208 min. The effects of the larger concentration were not completely reversible. Although SKF 525-A has been widely used to study the metabolism of drugs, its direct effects on conduction in nerve axons seem not to have been noted previously.     

The anatomy and physiology of the stomatogastric nervous system ofSquilla

Summary The stomatogastric nervous system of a mantis shrimp,Squilla oratoria, is described. The motor nerves of the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) and their innervation of muscles of the posterior cardiac plate (pcp) and pyloric systems are detailed.The STG contains more than 25 neurons. It sends out one pair of major output nerves. The pcp-pyloric cycle recorded from the motor axons in this nerve consists of rhythmic bursts of several units which fire with a characteristic phase relationship to each other. The rhythm is intrinsic to the STG itself, but it is modifiable.Recordings from the peripheral nerves reveal that identifiable cardiac plate, pyloric dilator and pyloric neurons control sequential contractions of the pcp and pyloric muscles to constrict or dilate a number of their attached ossicles.Several modulatory input fibres in the stomatogastric nerve, activated via stimulation of the superior or inferior oesophageal nerve (son, ion), prime or trigger the cyclic motor outputs. The son inputs induce distinct effects on the cardiac and pcp-pyloric pattern generators, while the ion inputs, via the oesophageal ganglion, excite only the pcp-pyloric generator.On the basis of anatomical and physiological observations, the possible functions of motor neurons involved in the pcp-pyloric cycle are described with reference to opening of the pcp and pyloric channels.This stomatogastric nervous system inSquilla is compared to that in decapods which has been well analyzed.Abbreviations CG commissural ganglion - ion inferior oesophageal nerve - lvn lateral ventricular nerve - OG oesophageal ganglion - pep posterior cardiac plate - son superior oesophageal nerve - STG stomatogastric ganglion - stn stomatogastric nerve - ivn inferior ventricular nerve     

Directional characteristics of the auditory system of cicadas: is the sound producing tymbal an integral part of directional hearing?

Abstract. Directional hearing is investigated in males of two species of cicadas, Tympanistalna gastrica (Stål) and Tettigetta josei Boulard, that are similar in size but show different calling song spectra. The vibrational response of the ears is measured with laser vibrometry and compared with thresholds determined from auditory nerve recordings. The data are used to investigate to what extent the directional characteristic of the tympanal vibrations is encoded by the activity of auditory receptors. Laser measurements show complex vibrations of the tympanum, and reveal that directional differences are rather high (>15 dB) in characteristic but limited frequency ranges. At low frequencies, both species show a large directional difference at the same frequency (3–5 kHz) whereas, above 10 kHz, the directional differences correspond to the different resonant frequencies of the respective tymbals. Consequently, due to the mechanical resonance of the tymbal, the frequency range at which directional differences are high differs between the two species that otherwise show similar dimensions of the acoustic system. The directional differences observed in the tympanal vibrations are also observed in the auditory nerve activity. These recordings confirm that the biophysically determined directional differences are available within the nervous system for further processing. Despite considerable intra as well as interindividual variability, the ears of the cicadas investigated here exhibit profound directional characteristics, because the thresholds determined from recordings of the auditory nerve at 30° to the right and left of the longitudinal axis differ by more than 5 dB.     

Developmental changes of the antenna and its neurons in the silkworm,Bombyx mori,with special regard to larval-pupal transformation

The larval antenna of Bombyx mori has 13 sensilla and about 52 sensory neurons in its distal portion. The axons form two nerve cords which unite in the cranial hemocoel to supply the brain as the olfactory nerve. The antennal imaginal disc, which is a thick pseudostratified epithelium continuous with the antennal epidermis, thickens markedly during the 5th instar by rapid cell proliferation. At the prepupal stage cell proliferation ceases and the disc everts to form a large pupal antenna. Simultaneously, an extensive cell rearrangement occurs in the antennal epidermis and the disc tissue becomes much thinner because of the abrupt expansion of antennal surface area. The two larval nerve cords thin down markedly by degeneration of axons, but they do not disintegrate totally even after the onset of pupation. The epidermis of the larval antenna forms the distal portion of the pupal antenna, while the imaginal disc forms the more basal portion. Development to the adult antenna occurs almost immediately after the onset of pupation; many adult neurons appear in the simple epidermis facing toward the thick outer side of the newly formed pupal cuticle. By 12 hours after the onset of pupation, these neurons align themselves in many transverse rows which are the first sign of the adult antennal configuration. Addition of these neuronal axons to the once-thinned nerve cords causes resumed thickening of the cords during the first 24 hours and thereafter. Differentiation of adult sensilla begins in the next 24 hours and is almost completed at the third day of pupation, which requires a total of 10 days.     

Neural development in the planktonic and early benthic stages of the palinurid lobster Jasus edwardsii

Jasus edwardsii has eleven phyllosoma larvae that are morphologically adapted for a plank‐tonic existence. These are followed by a puerulus stage which, although it has the general body form of the adult, is also adapted for swimming. The next moult is the first of the truly benthic juvenile stages. Using transmission electron microscopy we compared transverse sections of connectives in the ventral nerve cord of the first phyllosoma, the puerulus and the first post‐puerulus stage at a number of points. We found that the anterior cord of the phyllosoma has approximately the same number of neurons as the puerulus. This has implications for our understanding of crustacean larval sensory systems because previous work shows that most fibres in the adult nerve cord are sensory. Fibre counts in the post‐puerulus increase in the expected manner. The cord structure of the puerulus and post‐puerulus is the same as that found in the adult whereas that of the early phyllosoma is not.     

Nerve cell production in Hydra is deregulated by tumour-promoting phorbol ester

Summary The tumour-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) interfers with nerve cell production in Hydra when applied to the animals' culture medium. Precursor cells exposed to 0.2 nM TPA during the first half of their S-phase are prevented from differentiating into nerve cells. Precursor cells which start their S-phase following a treatment with TPA give rise to nerve cells. The frequency is higher than in untreated control animals. Offprint requests to: S. Berking     

The central and peripheral nervous system of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cephalodiscus gracilis</Emphasis> (Pterobranchia,Deuterostomia)

Nervous systems are important in assessing interphyletic phylogenies because they are conservative and complex. Regarding nervous system evolution within deuterostomes, two contrasting hypotheses are currently discussed. One that argues in favor of a concentrated, structured, central nervous system in the last common ancestor of deuterostomes (LCAD); the other reconstructing a decentralized nerve net as the nervous system of the LCAD. Here, we present a morphological analysis of the nervous system of the pterobranch deuterostome Cephalodiscus gracilis Harmer, 1905 based on transmission electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and computer-assisted 3D reconstructions based on complete serial histological sections. The entire nervous system constitutes a basiepidermal plexus. The prominent dorsal brain at the base of the mesosomal tentacles contains an anterior concentration of serotonergic neurons and a posterior net of neurites. Predominant neurite directions differ between brain regions and synapses are present, indicating that the brain constitutes a centralized portion of the nervous system. Main structures of the peripheral nervous system are the paired branchial nerves, tentacle nerves, and the ventral stalk nerve. Serotonergic neurites are scattered throughout the epidermis and are present as concentrations along the anterior border of the branchial nerves. Serotonergic neurons line each tentacle and project into the brain. We argue that the presence of a centralized brain in C. gracilis supports the hypothesis that a nerve center was present in the LCAD. Moreover, based on positional and structural similarity, we suggest that the branchial nerves in C. gracilis could be homologous to branchial nerves in craniates, a hypothesis that should be further investigated.     

The pattern of neuropeptide F and RF-amide in two tapeworms

Two years ago the first platyhelminth regulatory peptide, neuropeptide F (NPF), was isolated from the tapeworm Moniezia expansa by Maule et al. (1991). NPF is a 39 amino acid peptide with a C terminal phenylalaninamide. NPF is the first platyhelminth neuropeptide to be sequenced fully. Preabsorption with NPF quenches the immunostaining with anti-FMRF-amide and anti-bovine PP (Halton et al. 1992). As the first authentic flatworm neuropeptide, the occurence and distribution of NPF along the whole flatworm line are under investigation. Both free-living and parasitic flatworms are being studied. So far NPF-immunoreactivity has been reported from three free- living flatworms (see Grahn et al., 1995) and from four parasitic flatworms (Marks et al., 1993).FMRF- and RF-amide immunoreactive (IR) nerve cells and fibres are common in the gull-tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum. In order to test whether the patterns for NPF- and RF-immunoreactivity co- localize in the gull-tapeworm, immunostaining with anti-NPF and anti-RF were performed. To broaden the study, adult Proteochepalus exiguus from the intestine of whitefish were included in the experiment.The study was performed on whole mounts of skinned worms (Gustafsson, 1991). Anti-NPF was used in concentrations 1:500 and 1:1000. Controls included liquid phase absorption with the homologous antigen (1000 ng ml^–1).In D. dendriticum NPF-immunoreactivity occurs in nerve cells and varicose nerve fibres of larval and adult worms. The NPF-IR cell bodies are more common in the peripheral nerve cords than along the main nerve cords, which contain nerve fibres with large varicosities. The cell bodies in the PNS are often triangular in shape. Immediately beneath the tegumental surface a thin NPF-IR nerve fibre is observed. As to the co-localization of NPF and RF nothing definite can be said but the general pattern seems tobe the same. In the brain commissure of D. dendriticum one large ganglion cell stains with both antisera, indicating coexistence.In P. exiguus NPF- and RF-immunoreactivity was observed in the two main nerve cords situated laterally and in the pairs of thin dorsal and ventral longitudinal nerve cords. Numerous transverse commissures connect the longitudinal cords forming an orthogonal pattern. The cell bodies along the nerve cords are multipolar. Thin projections extend from the main nerve cords to the surface of the worm. The main nerve cords are lined with NPF-and RF-IR cell bodies. The general staining patterns of NPF and RF are very similar.     

Morphology and histology of the anterior dorsal fin of Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (Pisces Teleostei), a specialized sensory organ

Summary The morphology and fine structure of the vibratile anterior dorsal fin of the rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus are described. 60–80 fin rays project as a fringe from a reduced fin web; their lateral movement maintains the fin in almost constant rapid undulation, at a frequency of 3–4 beats per second. The fin can be laid back and with-drawn into a groove. Erector and depressor muscles, which are histologically distinct, move each ray. The fin support is modified, incorporating elastic cartilage, and enclosed in a capsule of collagenous connective tissue. The epidermis at the frontal and caudal aspect of each ray contains numerous receptor cells, over 100,000 per mm², which have an apical microvillus and synaptic connections with nerve fibres. The recurrent facial nerve sends a major branch to the dorsal fins, which is joined by dorsal ramuli of spinal nerves. It is calculated that there are three to six million receptor cells on the vibratile fin and in the epidermis of the dorsal groove, in individuals of average size. Taste buds do not occur in the skin of the groove, contrary to a previous report, nor on the vibratile fin rays, although they are present on the prominent most anterior fin ray and elsewhere on the fins and barbels. The undulatory motion of the fin draws sea water towards and through the vibratile rays and backwards as a perceptible current. The fin constitutes a specific sensory organ, a water sampler, peculiar to this rockling and related species.Abbrevations used in figures a aperture - am axial muscles - bl base of lepidotrichion - cc collagenous capsule - dlc dorsal longitudinal canal - dr distal radial - drs dorsal ramulus of a spinal nerve - e epidermal cell(s) - ec elastic cartilage - en extracapsular branch of the recurrent facial nerve - fm fin membrane - fr fin ray - frn fin ray nerve - in intracapsular branches of the recurrent facial nerve - l lepidotrichia - n nerve plexus - ns neural spine - pr proximal radial - rc receptor cell(s) - rdm radial depressor muscle - rem radial erector muscle - s scales - t tendons Dedicated to Professor Konrad Lorenz on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Dipole theory of interactions of nerve signals

Based upon the transition rate equation of dipoles in the membrane, we deal with two important aspects of interaction of nerve signals: (1) conditions for nerve excitation and (2) frequency spectrum analysis of nerve impulse. Interrelations between signal amplitudes and frequencies are formulated in detail. There are several important conclusions which can be drawn from our calculations. First, toexcite the nerve, low frequencies are generally more effective than high frequencies. Second, tosedate the nerve (i.e. to suppress undesired activities), high frequencies would suit better. Third, harmonics produced through interactions of nerve signals are not necessarily weaker than the fundamental frequencies. The great significance of our theory is that it indicates in principle the feasibility to alter or rewrite the information contents of a nerve message in our body by applying stimulations of appropriate strengths and frequencies. Thus, the theory provides a physical basis and hence some understanding for a new branch of medicine—neuro therapy such as Nogier's auriculotherapy, Lamy's phonophoresis, Voll's electroacupuncture and the fast rising TENS (transcutaneous electro-neuro stimulation).     

The giant neurone system in ophiuroids

Summary The morphology of the circumoral nerve ring of an ophiuroid, Ophiura texturata, is described. Particular attention is given to a system of fibres which are giant by echinoderm standards, and which occur both in the ectoneural and hyponeural parts of the nerve ring. The giant fibres in the ectoneural tissue do not show the complicated pattern of distribution present in the segmental ganglia of the radial nerves. The main areas of neuropil in the ectoneural tissue are associated with small axon bundles which leave the nerve ring to innervate the gut and disc. The hyponeural tissue is exclusively motor and is involved in the innervation of the main radial and inter-radial muscles of the disc. Branches of the motor nerves are also associated with juxtaligamental tissue, the secretory products from which are thought to influence the plasticity of collagenous connective tissue. The structure of the circumoral nerve ring suggests that it serves as a functional connection between the nerve cords in adjacent radii. The ultrastructural evidence does not support the view that the circumoral nerve ring represents a central nervous system.