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Related Experiment Videos

Postembryonic development of rectifying electrical synapses in crayfish: physiology.

W J Heitler1, R M Pitman, J L Cobb

  • 1Department of Biology and Pre-Clinical Medicine, University of St. Andrews, Gatty Marine Laboratory, Fife, UK.

Journal of Neurocytology
|February 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

The crayfish giant fibre to motor giant synapse functions electrically from hatching, despite lacking visible structures and showing no chemical component, paralleling behavioral development.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • The crayfish giant fibre to motor giant synapse transitions from chemical to electrical ultrastructure post-hatching.
  • This ultrastructural change correlates with a shift in behavior from non-giant fibre-mediated to giant fibre-mediated tailflips.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological properties of the crayfish giant fibre to motor giant synapse during early development.
  • To determine the mode of synaptic transmission and its developmental trajectory.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings from the giant fibre to motor giant synapse in developing crayfish.
  • Analysis of synaptic transmission, current spread, and resting potentials.
  • Correlation of physiological findings with existing ultrastructural data.

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Main Results:

  • The synapse transmits spikes 1:1 from hatching and operates electrically, despite absent connexons.
  • No chemical synaptic component was detected, even when ultrastructure suggested one.
  • Inhibitory chemical synapses onto the motor giant are present from hatching.
  • Electrical synapse rectification varies, with current spread influenced by motor giant hyperpolarization.

Conclusions:

  • The giant fibre to motor giant synapse is electrically functional from the day of hatching in crayfish.
  • Developmental changes in resting potential may explain variations in synaptic rectification.