Composition of the antennal nerve of Homarus americanus at different points along the flagellum
Titel:
Composition of the antennal nerve of Homarus americanus at different points along the flagellum
Auteur:
Oliviero, Francesca Geppetti, Laura Bedini, Celina Fiore, Lorenzo
Verschenen in:
Marine & freshwater behaviour & physiology
Paginering:
Jaargang 36 (2003) nr. 3 pagina's 115-127
Jaar:
2003-09
Inhoud:
The antennal flagellum nerve of Homarus americanus was investigated as to structure, number and size of axons, and propagation velocity. Frequency distributions of axon diameters, evaluated at four equidistant levels on the flagellum, ranged with continuity between 0.25 and 14.7 µm, with maximum at 0.5-1.5 µm. Axons 0.5-1.5 µm in diameter were more abundant at the distal level, indicating sensory specialization near the tip. The total axon numbers increased from about 9000 at the distal level to about 45 000 at the base. Axons of different size followed different patterns of increase in number from tip to base; these patterns were examined in relation to structural features of the flagellum, and to hypotheses of association with known or unidentified receptors. Propagation velocities were distributed with continuity, in the range between 3.39 and 0.24 m/s; velocity-diameter correspondences were outlined.