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Cited by 90Ion channel regulation and functionMarine Invertebrate Physiology and EcologyNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Separate sodium and calcium spikes in the same axon

Mackie, G. O., Meech, R. W.·1985·Nature
DOI 10.1038/313791a0
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Abstract

Aglantha digitale is a jellyfish (order Hydromedusae) capable of two distinct kinds of locomotion; 'slow' swimming which is generated endogenously and is used in fishing behaviour, and 'fast' swimming which is evoked by predators and serves for escape. Both forms of swimming are produced by contraction of the bell-shaped body wall and expulsion of a jet of water from an opening at the base of the animal. During slow swimming, the contractions are weak and the animal moves about 15 mm, roughly one body length, but during a fast swim there is a more violent contraction which can propel the animal five times as far. Both forms of contraction depend on impulses in the eight giant motor axons that synapse directly with the muscle sheet making up the inner surface of the body wall. We report here that the giant motor axons are able to mediate both kinds of activity because they can conduct two different sorts of impulse. Fast swimming requires a rapidly conducted Na+-dependent action potential whereas slow swimming depends on a low amplitude Ca2+ 'spike'. This is the first report of an axon capable of two kinds of impulse propagation and it provides a physiological function for low potential Ca2+ activation.

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  • The giant axons in Aglantha were reported to have two kinds of impulse propagation.

    “the giant axons in the jellyfish Aglantha were reported to have two kinds of impulse propagation [79]”

    From Back to the Basics: Cnidarians Start to Fire (2017) · cites this paper as [79]

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Related

Authors
Mackie, G. O., & Meech, R. W.
Affiliations
  • University of Victoria (CA)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
ORCID
Meech, R. W.
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1985-02
Volume
313
Issue
6005
Pages
791-793
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/313791a0
OpenAlex
W2005567876
Cited by
90
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
FWCI
1.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Explore Bristol Research (publishedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ion channel regulation and function
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
Aglantha digitale, jellyfish, calcium spikes, escape behavior, jellyfish locomotion
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Axons, Calcium, Cnidaria, Kinetics, Motor Neurons, Sodium, Swimming, Scyphozoa

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