Input-output relationships of identified buccal neurones involved in feeding control in Aplysia

A group of about 28 neurones located in the lateral portion of the caudal face of Aplysia buccal ganglion and projecting into the cerebro-buccal connective were identified by retrograde cobalt staining, and designated as L neurones. It was found that the L neurones did not establish synaptic relations with the known buccal neurones, which are mainly involved in the production of the consummatory phase of feeding, nor with several cerebral neurones tested, including the well-known serotonin giant cell. Neither did they show responses to stimulation of the nerves directed to the buccal mass. On the other hand, the L neurones showed depolarizing responses, with the possible addition of a weak, slower hyperpolarizing phase, to stimulation of the ipsi- and contralateral oesophageal nerves, which innervate the portion of the gut posterior to the buccal mass. These findings, together with several properties of the oesophageal nerve input, suggest that one function of the L cells is to transmit information about gut regions posterior to the buccal mass towards the cerebral ganglia, and that they may mediate the inhibitory influence which in Aplysia is known to be exerted upon feeding by the presence of bulk in the anterior gut. The L neurones showed synaptic responses - consisting mainly or exclusively of depolarizations - to stimulation of the cerebro-buccal connectives. Besides this, large, tonic EPSPs, which often occurred in the 'spontaneous' activity of the L neurones, were found to be generated by spikes that travelled in the cerebro-buccal connective towards the buccal ganglion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)