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Cited by 69Cephalopods and Marine BiologyNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMarine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology

Neuromuscular system of the flexible arm of the octopus: physiological characterization

Matzner, Henry, Gutfreund, Yoram, Hochner, Binyamin·2000·Journal of Neurophysiology
DOI 10.1152/jn.2000.83.3.1315
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Abstract

The octopus arm is an outstanding example of an efficient boneless and highly flexible appendage. We have begun characterizing the neuromuscular system of the octopus arm in both innervated muscle preparations and dissociated muscle cells. Functionally antagonistic longitudinal and transverse muscle fibers showed no differences in membrane properties and mode of innervation. The muscle cells are excitable but have a broad range of linear membrane properties. They are electrotonically very compact so that localized synaptic inputs can control the membrane potential of the entire muscle cell. Three distinct excitatory neuronal inputs to each arm muscle cell were identified; their reversal potentials were extrapolated to be about -10 mV. These appear to be cholinergic as they are blocked by hexamethonium, D-tubocurarine, and atropine. Two inputs have low quantal amplitude (1-7 mV) and slow rise times (4-15 ms), whereas the third has a large size (5-25 mV) and fast rise time (2-4 ms). This large synaptic input is most likely due to exceptionally large quantal events. The probability of release is rather low, suggesting a stochastic activation of muscle cells. All inputs demonstrated a modest activity-dependent plasticity typical of fast neuromuscular systems. The pre- and postsynaptic properties suggest a rather direct relation between neuronal activity and muscle action. The lack of significant electrical coupling between muscle fibers and the indications for the small size of the motor units suggest that the neuromuscular system of the octopus arm has evolved to ensure a high level of precise localization in the neural control of arm function.

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  • Collectively, the brachial nerves contain an estimated 32 thousand efferent (outbound) axons, while an estimated 3 million motor neurons terminate on the musculature of the arms and suckers from the neuropil of the nerve cords.

    “Collectively, the brachial nerves contain an estimated 32 thousand efferent (outbound) axons, while an estimated 3 million motor neurons terminate on the musculature of the arms and suckers from the neuropil of the nerve cords (Young, 1965; Matzner et al., 2000; Rokni and Hochner, 2002; Nesher et al., 2019).”

    From Lessons for Robotics From the Control Architecture of the Octopus (2022) · cites this paper as Matzner et al., 2000

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Authors
Matzner, H., Gutfreund, Y., & Hochner, B.
Affiliations
Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Neurophysiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Published
2000-03-01
Volume
83
Issue
3
Pages
1315-1328
ISSN
  • 0022-3077 (ISSN-L)
  • 1522-1598
DOI
10.1152/jn.2000.83.3.1315
OpenAlex
W1885102241
Cited by
69
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Neurophysiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Cephalopods and Marine Biology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
Keywords
octopus arm, neuromuscular system, flexible appendages, synaptic input, cholinergic synapses, quantal release, synaptic plasticity, motor units, hexamethonium, tubocurarine, atropine
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Membrane, Extremities, Membrane Potentials, Motor Neurons, Muscles, Neuronal Plasticity, Parasympathetic Nervous System, Synapses, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Octopodiformes, In Vitro Techniques

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