Rhopalia are integrated parts of the central nervous system in box jellyfish
Författare
Summary, in English
In cubomedusae, the central nervous system (CNS) is found both in the bell (the ring nerve) and in the four eye-bearing sensory structures (the rhopalia). The ring nerve and the rhopalia are connected via the rhopalial stalks and examination of the structure of the rhopalial stalks therefore becomes important when trying to comprehend visual processing. In the present study, the rhopalial stalk of the cubomedusae Tripedalia cystophora has been examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electrophysiology. A major part of the ring nerve is shown to continue into the stalk and to contact the rhopalial neuropil directly. Ultrastructural analysis of synapse distribution in the rhopalial stalk has failed to show any clustering, which indicates that integration of the visual input is probably spread throughout the CNS. Together, the results indicate that cubomedusae have one coherent CNS including the rhopalia. Additionally, a novel gastrodermal nerve has been found in the stalk; this nerve is not involved in visual processing but is likely to be mechanosensory and part of a proprioceptory system.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2006
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
333-343
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Cell and Tissue Research
Volym
325
Issue
2
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Springer
Ämne
- Cell Biology
Nyckelord
- CNS
- synapse
- Tripedalia cystophora
- (Cnidaria : Cubozoa)
- jellyfish
- eyes
- rhopalia
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Lund Vision Group
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1432-0878