Abstract
The cerebral-buccal interneurons (CBIs) in Aplysia are a group of inter-ganglionic projection neurons that regulate feeding motor programs. In this study, electrophysiological and immunocytological methods were used to identify a previously uncharacterized CBI, designated CBI-11. CBI-11 is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-immunoreactive neuron located in the G cluster of the cerebral ganglion. Firing CBI-11 produced fast picrotoxin-sensitive inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in buccal motor neuron B3. Local application of GABA to B3 produced a picrotoxin-sensitive hyperpolarization that reversed at the same membrane potential as the IPSPs elicited by stimulation of CBI-11. Together, these observations indicate that CBI-11 utilizes GABA as its transmitter. Finally, stimulation of CBI-11 elicited rhythmic motor programs in quiescent buccal ganglia. Thus, CBI-11 is a GABAergic CBI that can function as a motor program initiator.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 5-8 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Neuroscience Letters |
Volume | 341 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 24 Apr 2003 |
Keywords
- Aplysia
- Command neurons
- Feeding
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid
- Motor programs