Neuronal Basis of Hunting and Feeding Behaviour in the Pteropod Mollusc Clione Limacina

Authors: Panchin, Y.V.¹; Gamkrelidze, G.N.²; Popova, L.B.²; Deliagina, T.G.³; Orlovsky, G.N.³; Arshavsky, Y.I.⁴

Source: Netherlands Journal of Zoology, Volume 44, Numbers 3-4, 1993 , pp. 170-183(14)

Publisher: BRILL

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For more content see: Archives Néerlandaises de Zoologie (Volumes 1-17), Animal Biology (Volume 53 onwards)

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Abstract:

The pteropod mollusc Clione limacina is a predator, feeding on another pteropod mollusc, Limacina helicina. Essential elements of Clione's hunting and feeding behaviour can be evoked pharmacologically. The sensory input driven by the presence of Limacina is mimicked by physostigmine (PhS), the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Injection of PhS into Clione brought it to the state of hunting excitation accompanied by a reversal of the reaction to head stimulation. As a result, head stimulation, instead of a defence reaction, evoked active hunting behaviour. The 'fictive hunting behaviour', that is activation of main motor systems participating in hunting behaviour, could be evoked in a preparation of the isolated central nervous system (CNS) by PhS application. To some extent, activation of the motor systems was realized through serotonergic mechanisms. GABAergic mechanisms also play an important role in the organization of Clione's feeding behaviour. GABA application to the preparation of the isolated CNS resulted in activation of the feeding rhythm generator and excitation of the motoneurons supplying the protractor tentacle muscles. The results show that in gastropod molluscs complex behaviour involving different functional systems may be described in terms of the activity of single identified neurons.

Keywords: mollusc; Clione limacina; hunting behaviour; feeding behaviour; physostigmine; GABA; serotonin

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1163/156854293X00322

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Problems of Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of Russia, Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA, A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University 2: A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Russia 3: Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Department ofNeuroscience, Karolinska Institutel, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden, A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Russia 4: Institute of Problems of Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of Russia, Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA