Neuronal input contributes to sequence of Aplysia egg laying behaviors |
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Authors: | A Ter Maat G P Ferguson |
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Institution: | (1) Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam, Research Institute Neurosciences Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Biology, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;(2) Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn , Villa Comunale, I-80121 Napoli, Italy;(3) Present address: Biologisch Laboratorium, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Egg laying in Aplysia is controlled by the bag cell neuroendocrine system, which releases multiple peptides during a long-lasting electrical discharge. Following the discharge, a fixed sequence of head and neck movements is performed in which two phases can be distinguished: an appetitive or preparatory phase, in which the substrate is prepared, and a consummatory phase, when the egg string is deposited. During egg laying, feeding responses are suppressed. In this study, Aplysia fasciata was used. When the movement of the egg string through the genital groove was prevented by ligation, lesions of the nerve innervating the genital pore completely abolished the consummatory egg-laying behaviors. This shows that a nervous connection between the genital pore area and the central nervous system is important for the consummatory egg-laying behaviors.We found that suppression of feeding responses to seaweed occurred only during the consummatory phase of egg laying in controls, but animals with ligated genital grooves continued to show normal responses to food. It is hypothesized that a neuronal feedback, possibly together with the bag cell peptides, is critical for the temporal organization of egg-laying behavior in Aplysia.Abbreviations CNS
central nervous system
- ELH
egg laying hormone |
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Keywords: | Bag cells Reproduction Aplysia |
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