Photosensitivity of the Central Nervous System of Limulus polyphemus

Mori, Kazuo; Kuramoto, T.

doi:10.2108/zsj.21.731

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In the present and previous studies (Mori and Kuramoto, 2004), we have observed that illumination of isolated opisthosomal ganglia of the Limulus ventral nerve cord either inhibited or accelerated (or both) the activity of dorsal and ventral nerves. We suggest that light stimulation may modulate the activity of visceral organs and gill plates.…”

Section: Functional Significance Of Extra-retinal Photosensitive Neuronssupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Using extracellular recording techniques, we recently observed that motor outputs of the isolated opisthosomal ventral nerve cord of Limulus are modulated by direct light stimulation (Mori and Kuramoto, 2004). Encouraged by this finding, we used intracellular recording techniques to search for photosensitive neurons in isolated ganglia of opisthosomal ventral nerve cord and examined their physiological and morphological properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physiological and Morphological Identification of Photosensitive Neurons in the Opisthosomal Ganglia ofLimulus polyphemus

Mori

Saito

Kuramoto

2004

The Biological Bulletin

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The motor outputs of the isolated opisthosomal ventral nerve cord in Limulus polyphemus are modulated by light. We have identified the photosensitive neurons and examined their physiological and morphological properties using intracellular recording and staining techniques. We found that photosensitive neurons are present in each ganglion of the opisthosomal ventral nerve cord. These neurons often discharged action potentials spontaneously in the dark, and they increased the frequency of this discharge in the light. The mean latency (+/-SD) of the light-induced action potential was 2.2 +/- 1.1 s. Cells responded in a graded fashion over a 2-log unit of light intensity. The peak spectral sensitivity was 425 nm or lower. The Lucifer-yellow-labeled photosensitive neurons had oval somata with mean (+/-SD) diameters of 102 +/- 3 microm (long axis) and 75 +/- 5 microm (short axis), and extended their axons to the contralateral region of the ventral nerve cord. The soma had no dendrites, and the axon had thin branches.

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Section: Functional Significance Of Extra-retinal Photosensitive Neuronssupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%