Ultrastructural evidence for two‐cell and three‐cell neural pathways in the tentacle epidermis of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida
Abstract
Sensory and ganglion cells in the tentacle epidermis of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida were traced in serial transmission electron micrographs to their synaptic contacts on other cells. Sensory cell synapses were found on spirocytes, muscle cells, and ganglion cells. Ganglion cells, in turn, synapsed on sensory cells, spirocytes, muscle cells, and other neurons and formed en passant axo‐axonal synapses. Axonal synapses on nematocytes and gland cells were not traced to their cells of origin, i.e., identified sensory or ganglion cells. Direct synaptic contacts of sensory cells with spirocytes and sensory cells with muscle cells suggest a local two‐cell pathway for spirocyst discharge and muscle cell contraction, whereas interjection of a ganglion cell between the sensory and effector cells creates a local three‐cell pathway. The network of ganglion cells and their processes allows for a through‐conduction system that is interconnected by chemical synapses. Although the sea anemone nervous system is more complex than that of Hydra, it has similar two‐cell and three‐cell effector pathways that may function in local responses to tentacle contact with food. J. Morphol. 251:83–92, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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The presence of a well-developed nerve net correlates with the presence of basiepithelial muscle fibres directly innervated by nerve net neurons in cnidarians and ctenophores.
“The presence of a well-developed nerve net correlates with the presence of basiepithelial muscle fibres directly innervated by nerve net neurons, in cnidarians and in ctenophores [61,67,128,132,133,135,136,138–142].”
From Gastric pouches and the mucociliary sole: setting the stage for nervous system evolution (2015) · cites this paper as [138]
Core units of basal metazoan nerve nets appear to be local two- to three-cell sensory-effector reflex arcs that directly innervate effector cells.
“Core units of the basal metazoan nerve nets appear to be local two- to three-cell sensory-effector reflex arcs [138] that directly innervate the effector cells (myoepithelial cells or cnidocytes in cnidarians [138], muscle cells and ciliated cells in ctenophores [129]).”
From Gastric pouches and the mucociliary sole: setting the stage for nervous system evolution (2015) · cites this paper as [138]
The long-range contacts of the ganglion cells allow the generation of coordinated movements.
“The long-range contacts of the ganglion cells allow the generation of coordinated movements [64].”
From Origin and early evolution of neural circuits for the control of ciliary locomotion (2011) · cites this paper as [64]
Direct sensory-motor neurons innervating muscles were described in the tentacles of Hydra and the sea anemone Aiptasia.
“They were described in the tentacles of Hydra [60–63] and the sea anemone Aiptasia [64].”
From Origin and early evolution of neural circuits for the control of ciliary locomotion (2011) · cites this paper as [64]
Direct sensory-motor neurons innervating muscles can still be observed in cnidarian nervous systems.
“In support of the neuro-myoepithelial cell scenario, direct sensory-motor neurons, innervating muscles, can still be observed in cnidarian nervous systems.”
From Origin and early evolution of neural circuits for the control of ciliary locomotion (2011) · cites this paper as [64]
Neural circuits representing such a stage are present in cnidarians.
“Neural circuits representing such a stage are present in cnidarians.”
From Origin and early evolution of neural circuits for the control of ciliary locomotion (2011) · cites this paper as [64]
These neurons trigger local muscle contractions.
“These neurons trigger local muscle contractions.”
From Origin and early evolution of neural circuits for the control of ciliary locomotion (2011) · cites this paper as [64]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Westfall, J. A., Elliott, C. F., & Carlin, R. W.
- Affiliations
- Kansas State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Westfall, Jane A.
- Venue
- Journal of Morphology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2001-11-08
- Volume
- 251
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 83-92
- ISSN
- 0362-2525 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2162837096
- Cited by
- 83
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 1.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Morphology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Keywords
- Aiptasia pallida, sensory cells, ganglion cells, muscle cells, nematocytes, gland cells, synaptic connectivity, chemical synapses, ultrastructure
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Epidermis, Nervous System, Neural Pathways, Sea Anemones
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