In vitro, proctolin and serotonin induced modulations of the abdominal motor system activities in crayfish

An in vitro thoraco-abdominal preparation of the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) ventral nerve cord was used to study the sites of action and the effects of proctolin and serotonin on the nervous activities of the two abdominal motor systems, namely the swimmeret and the abdominal positioning systems. In this preparation spontaneous motor activity was recorded corresponding to continuous rhythmic bursts in the swimmeret motor nerves and tonic discharge of motoneurons in both abdominal extensor and flexor motor nerves. Proctolin applied on the abdominal ganglia elicited bursts of spikes in the flexor motor nerve which were able to disturb and even stop the swimmeret activity. Increasing concentrations of serotonin applied on the thoracic ganglia were able, first, to increase the period durations of the swimmeret bursting activity and, second, to stop it. In this last condition, continuous swimmeret activity resumed by application of proctolin on the abdominal ganglia although period durations stayed slightly longer than in control. The actions of serotonin and proctolin on the two abdominal motor systems were discussed in terms of modulations and interactions between central neuronal networks and behaviors.