Intersegmental ascending interneurons controlling uropod movements of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii

The premotor effects of intersegmental ascending interneurons upon uropod motor neurones in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) are examined with intracellular recording and staining techniques. We show that many ascending interneurones can affect the activity of the antagonistic opener and closer motor neurones in the terminal ganglion. Based upon soma position, ascending interneurones are divided into three groups of rostral, medial, and caudal interneurones. Twenty-four ascending interneurones are characterized physiologically according to their inputs from the tailfan and their output effects on the uropod motor neurones of both sides. Each interneurone is identifiable as a unique individual by means of overall shape, soma position, number of main branches, the commissure in which primary neurites cross the midline, axon position in the 5th-6th abdominal connective and physiological responses. They are classified into six classes; coactivating, coinhibiting, reciprocally closing, reciprocally opening, variably effective, and not effective interneurones, according to their premotor effects on the uropod motor neurones. These ascending interneurones seem to act as multifunctional units conveying sensory information from the tailfan to the anterior abdominal ganglia and, at the same time, influencing the uropod motor pattern in the terminal abdominal ganglion.