The abdominal ganglion of Aplysia brasiliana: A comparative morphological and electrophysiological study, with notes on A. dactylomela

J. E. Blankenship, R. E. Coggeshall

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    17 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The ultrastructure and electrophysiological properties of neurons in the abdominal (visceral) ganglion of the marine opisthobranch gastropod Aplysia brasiliana have been investigated to determine whether this preparation compares favorably with the well studied A. californica for neurobiological research. In general, the topography, morphology and physiological characteristics, including synaptic connections, of neurons in this ganglion are quite similar to those of A. californica. There is close correspondence between the two animals in terms of each of the identified cells or neuronal clusters in the ganglion, including the presence of the cell L10 (interneuron I) in A. brasiliana which makes synaptic connections comparable with those in A. californica. New follower cells of this interneuron have been found in A. brasiliana. This species offers some advantages in that the connective tissue surrounding the ganglion is thinner and more transparent, making cell identification and penetration easier. A. brasiliana appears to exhibit the behaviors of A. californica that have been used in previous functional analyses of neural circuits. In addition, this species swims and exhibits a „burrowing” activity less commonly seen in A. californica. The rich repertoire of behaviors and accessibility of large identifiable and functionally interconnected neurons makes this species of Aplysia an excellent model preparation for future neurobiological studies. Similar, less thorough, investigations of the abdominal ganglion of A. dactylomela indicate that this species is also very similar to A. californica in terms of the identified cells in the abdominal ganglion.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)383-405
    Number of pages23
    JournalJournal of Neurobiology
    Volume7
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Sep 1976

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Neuroscience
    • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'The abdominal ganglion of Aplysia brasiliana: A comparative morphological and electrophysiological study, with notes on A. dactylomela'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this