Acta Biologica Hungarica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 55: Issue 1-4
Why the Ovotestis of Helix aspersa is Innervated
Authors:
R. Chase Department of Biology, McGill University 1205 Ave. Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1

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T. Antkowiak Department of Biology, McGill University 1205 Ave. Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1

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E. Geoffroy Department of Biology, McGill University 1205 Ave. Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1

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D. Weatherill Department of Biology, McGill University 1205 Ave. Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1

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Pages:
239–249
Online Publication Date:
22 Jul 2005
Publication Date:
01 May 2004
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/abiol.55.2004.1-4.29
Keywords:
Ovotestis - ovulation - oviposition - oocytes - snails; Ovotestis - ovulation - oviposition - oocytes - snails; Ovotestis - ovulation - oviposition - oocytes - snails
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Although Schmalz described the innervation of the ovotestis in pulmonate snails as early as 1914, no functions have been attributed to it. In H. aspersa, the intestinal nerve branches profusely within the ovotestis and terminates in the walls of the acini and in the sheath surrounding the early portion of the hermaphroditic duct. We found both sensory and motor functions for this innervation. Significantly, there is a tonic sensory discharge generated by the mechanical pressure of growing oocytes, and the level of tonic afferent activity is strongly correlated with the number of ripe oocytes; this is probably a permissive signal that gates ovulation. Tactile stimulation of the ovotestis causes a phasic sensory discharge and a pronounced cardio activation. Also, an efferent discharge is elicited in the ovotestis branch of the intestinal nerve. To study the motor consequences of efferent activity, the ovotestis branch was electrically stimulated. We found that such stimulation evokes peristaltic contractions of the initial portion of the hermaphroditic duct and increases beat frequencies of the cilia that line the interior of the duct. These effects could facilitate the transport of oocytes down the duct. Still other functions of afferent activity are implied by changes in the spontaneous activity of mesocerebral cells following nerve stimulation. Putative sensory neurons and putative motoneurons have been identified in the visceral and right parietal ganglia.

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Cover Acta Biologica Hungarica
Acta Biologica Hungarica
Print ISSN:
0236-5383
Online ISSN:
1588-256X

Senior editors

Editor(s)-in-Chief: Elekes, Károly

Editorial Board

    1. Csányi, Vilmos (Göd)
    1. Dudits, Dénes (Szeged)
    1. Falus, András (Budapest)
    1. Fischer, Ernő (Pécs)
    1. Gábriel, Róbert (Pécs)
    1. Gulya, Károly (Szeged)
    1. Gulyás, Balázs (Stockholm)
    1. Hajós, Ferenc (Budapest)
    1. Hámori, József (Budapest)
    1. Heszky, László (Gödöllő)
    1. Hideg, Éva (Szeged)
    1. E. Ito (Sanuki)
    1. Janda, Tibor (Martonvásár)
    1. Kavanaugh, Michael P. (Missoula)
    1. Kása, Péter (Szeged)
    1. Klein, Éva (Stockholm)
    1. Kovács, János (Budapest)
    1. Brigitte Mauch-Mani (Neuchâtel)
    1. Nässel, Dick R. (Stockholm)
    1. Nemcsók, János (Szeged)
    1. Péczely, Péter (Gödöllő)
    1. Roberts, D. F. (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)
    1. Sakharov, Dimitri A. (Moscow)
    1. Singh, Meharvan (Fort Worth)
    1. Sipiczky, Mátyás (Debrecen)
    1. Szeberényi, József (Pécs)
    1. Székely, György (Debrecen)
    1. Tari, Irma (Szeged)
    1. Vágvölgyi, Csaba (Szeged),
    1. L. Zaborszky (Newark)

 

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Acta Biologica Hungarica
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 1950
Publication
Programme		 changed title
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
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Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0236-5383 (Print)
ISSN 1588-256X (Online)

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