Radular mechanosensory neuron in the buccal ganglia of the terrestrial slug,Incilaria fruhstorferi

A radular mechanosensory neuron, RM, was identified in the buccal ganglia of Incilaria fruhstorferi. Fine neurites ramified bilaterally in the buccal ganglia, and main neurites entered the subradular epithelium via buccal nerve 3 (n3). When the radula was distorted by bending, RM produced an afferent spike which was preceded by an axonic spike recorded at n3. The response of RM to radular distortion was observed even in the absence of Ca²⁺, which drastically suppressed chemical synaptic interactions. Therefore, RM was concluded to be a primary radular mechanoreceptor.During rhythmic buccal motor activity induced by food or electrical stimulation of the cerebrobuccal connective, RM received excitatory input during the radular retraction phase. In the isolated buccal ganglia connected to the radula via n3s, the afferent spike, which had been evoked by electrical stimulation of the subradular epithelium, was broadened with the phasic excitatory input. Since the afferent spike was also broadened by current injection into the soma, depolarization due to the phasic input may have produced the spike broadening.Spike broadening was also observed during repetitive firing evoked by current injection. The amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic potential in a follower neuron increased depending on the spike broadening of RM.Abbreviations CBC cerebrobuccal connective - EPSP excitatory postsynaptic potential - n1,n3 buccal nerves 1 and 3 - RBMA rhythmic buccal motor activity - RM radular mechanosensory neuron - SMT supramedian radular tensor neuron     

Modulation of the feeding system by a radular mechanosensory neuron in the terrestrial slug,Incilaria fruhstorferi

We investigated the modulatory role of a radular mechanoreceptor (RM) in the feeding system of Incilaria. RM spiking induced by current injection evoked several cycles of rhythmic buccal motor activity in quiescent preparations, and this effect was also observed in preparations lacking the cerebral ganglia. The evoked rhythmic activity included sequential activation of the inframedian radular tensor, the supramedian radular tensor, and the buccal sphincter muscles in that order.In addition to the generation of rhythmic motor activity, RM spiking enhanced tonic activities in buccal nerve 1 as well as in the cerebrobuccal connective, showing a wide excitatory effect on buccal neurons. The excitatory effect was further examined in the supramedian radular tensor motoneuron. RM spiking evoked biphasic depolarization in the tensor motoneuron consisting of fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials and prolonged depolarization lasting after termination of RM spiking. These depolarizations also occurred in high divalent cation saline, suggesting that they were both monosynaptic.When RM spiking was evoked in the fictive rasp phase during food-induced buccal motor rhythm, the activity of the supramedian radular tensor muscle showed the greatest enhancement of the three muscles tested, while the rate of ongoing rhythmic motor activity showed no increase.Abbreviations CPG central pattern generator - EPSP excitatory postsynaptic potential - RBMA rhythmic buccal motor activity - RM radular mechanosensory neuron - SMT supramedian radular tensor neuron     

Proteomic analysis from the mineralized radular teeth of the giant Pacific chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri (Mollusca)

The biomineralized radular teeth of chitons are known to consist of iron-based magnetic crystals, associated with the maximum hardness and stiffness of any biomineral. Based on our transmission electron microscopy analysis of partially mineralized teeth, we suggest that the organic matrix within the teeth controls the iron oxide nucleation. Thus, we used Nano-LC-MS to perform a proteomic analysis of the organic matrix in radular teeth of the chiton Cryptochiton stelleri in order to identify the proteins involved in the biomineralization process. Since the genome sequence of C. stelleri is not available, cross-species similarity searching and de novo peptide sequencing were used to screen the proteins. Our results indicate that several proteins were dominant in the mineralized part of the radular teeth, amongst which, myoglobin and a highly acidic peptide were identified as possibly involved in the biomineralization process.     

Morphological adaptations and plasticity of radular teeth of the Sacoglossa (= Ascoglossa) (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) in relation to their food plants

The radular teeth of 55 species of Sacoglossa (= Ascoglossa) (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) with known diets are classified into three basic groups: triangular, blade-shaped and sabot-shaped. Cell wall composition of the food plant is the single most important factor influencing radular morphology. The algae eaten by sacoglossans have either xylan, mannan or cellulose as their structural wall component. Sabot-shaped teeth are associated with diets of Siphonocladales and Cladophorales, which have cellulose cell walls of a 'crossed fibrillar texture'. Triangular teeth with lateral denticles are associated with diets of Caulerpa or with calcified algae. Most of these have xylan as the major structural polysaccharide. Blade-shaped teeth occur in a large number of species representing a wide variety of diets. It is proposed that the three types of teeth function in different manners. Tooth denticulation is correlated with functional group of the food plant. The radular teeth of Elysia viridis feeding on Codium are longer, wider and have more curved tips than teeth of E. viridis feeding on Chaetomorpha. The teeth of E. viridis transferred from Codium to Chaelomorpha in the laboratory change in shape as well as size.     

嫁(虫戚)属2种的齿舌形态差异分析

在光镜和电镜下对嫁(虫戚)(Cellana toreuma)和斗嫁(虫戚)(C.grata)的齿舌形态进行观察比较。2种嫁(虫戚)的齿式都为1.1.0.1.1,即具有1枚侧齿和1枚缘齿,缺乏中央齿。齿舌前端都有1小段弯曲,齿片排列松散且存在明显的磨损现象。嫁(虫戚)和斗嫁(虫戚)的侧齿形状很相似,侧齿呈镰刀型且具1个齿尖,基部近似三角形且具突起,尖齿部分细长。两种嫁(虫戚)的缘齿存在一定的差异,嫁(虫戚)缘齿具3个齿尖,第2尖齿靠近第3尖齿。斗嫁(虫戚)缘齿具2个齿尖且比较细长,第2尖齿靠近缘齿基部。本文用17个参数对这两种嫁(虫戚)的齿舌带及其前中后3段上的齿片进行了测量比较,发现斗嫁(虫戚)齿舌带的长宽比明显大于嫁(虫戚)齿舌带的长宽比,即斗嫁(虫戚)的齿舌带显得更加细长。齿舌带前、中、后3段各比例参数的值存在一定的关系,即中段大于前段、中段大于后段。据此认为用齿舌作为2种嫁(虫戚)的分类依据是可行的。     

The relation between excitation-contraction coupling and fine structure of a molluscan muscle,the radular retractor of the whelk,Buccinum undatum

The Buccinum radula is of the rachiglossate type with two outer rows of fierce hook-like attack teeth and a medial row of straight sharp-pointed shredding teeth. Individual cells of the radular retractor muscle are 10–12 m in diameter and separated at the closest by gaps of only 40 nm, providing areas of potential electrical contact. The cell membranes are heavily invested with long finger-like invaginations, associated with sarcoplasmic reticular cisternae, and surface caveolae; the latter are associated with the numerous dense body membrane attachment plaques found in this muscle. The radular retractor muscle possesses a significant sarcoplasmic reticulum of peripheral cisternae and deeper vesicles associated with mitochondria. The surface caveolae may result from myofilament force exerted via attachment plaques at the cell membrane, while deeper invaginations may constitute a rudimentary transverse tubular system to relay surface depolarization to associated sarcoplasmic reticular cisternae inducing calcium release to effect excitation-contraction coupling. The radular retractor muscle possesses the usual thick paramyosin and thin actin myofilaments, the latter associated with dense bodies and attachment plaques presumably to transduce force to the cell membrane. The mitochondria are unusually large and packed into dense central clusters surrounded by large deposits of glycogen granules. The nerve endings on the radular retractor muscle fibres show four different types of transmitter vesicle, presumably related to the four kinds of agonist action in this muscle, cholinergic, serotonergic, peptidergic and purinergic. All nerve endings have mixed vesicle populations, clear evidence of co-transmission. In this muscle we see a modification of usual smooth muscle structure to effect fast sustained contractions, an ultrastructural configuration functionally designed for the muscle's central role in the feeding cycle.Abbreviations ABRM anterior byssus retractor muscle - EC coupling excitation-contraction coupling - RP radular protractor muscle - RR radular retractor muscle - SR sarcoplasmic reticulum - T-system transverse tubular system