Home General Physiology and Biophysics 2018 General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.37, No.1, p.13–21, 2018

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Founded: 1982
ISSN  1338-4325 (online)

Published in English

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General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.37, No.1, p.13–21, 2018

Title: Left-right asymmetry in firing rate of extra-retinal photosensitive neurons in the crayfish
Author: José A. Pacheco-Ortiz, Juan C. Sánchez-Hernández, Leonardo Rodríguez-Sosa, Gabina Calderón-Rosete, Edgar Villagran-Vargas

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the firing rate of the caudal photoreceptors (CPRs) from the sixth abdominal ganglion of the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. We use simultaneous extracellular recordings on left and right CPR in the isolated ganglion (n = 10). The CPRs showed an asymmetry in the spontaneous activity and light-induced response. In darkness, we observed one subgroup (70%) in which the left CPR (CPR-L) and right CPR (CPR-R) had spontaneous firing rates with a median of 18 impulses/s and 6 impulses/s, respectively. In another subgroup (20%), the CPR-R had a median of 15 impulses/s and the CPR-L had 8 impulses/s. In both groups, the differences were significant. Furthermore, the CPRs showed an asymmetrical photoresponse induced by a pulse of white light (700 Lux, 4 s). In one subgroup (30%), the CPR-L showed light-induced activity with a median of 73%, (interquartile range, IQR = 51), while the CPR-R had a median of 41%, (IQR = 47). In another subgroup (70%), the CPR-R showed a median of 56%, (IQR = 51) and the CPR-L had a median of 42%, (IQR = 46). In both groups, the differences were significant. Moreover, we observed a differential effect of temperature on CPR activity. These results suggest a functional asymmetry in both activities from left and right CPRs. These CPR activity fluctuations may modulate the processing of information by the nervous system.

Keywords: Caudal photoreceptor — Crustaceans — Cherax quadricarinatus — Spontaneous activity — Photoresponse
Published online: 22-Jan-2018
Year: 2018, Volume: 37, Issue: 1 Page From: 13, Page To: 21
doi:10.4149/gpb_2017040


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