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Cited by 48Marine Invertebrate Physiology and EcologyNeurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Central circuitry in the jellyfish Aglantha digitale IV. Pathways coordinating feeding behaviour

Mackie, G. O., Marx, R. M., Meech, R. W.·2003·Journal of Experimental Biology
DOI 10.1242/jeb.00450
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Abstract

The hydromedusan jellyfish Aglantha digitale feeds on small planktonic organisms carried to the margin by tentacle flexions. During feeding, the manubrium bends across ("points") and seizes the prey with flared lips. In immobilized preparations, pointing to a source of electrical stimulation was accurate, 70% of the time, to within 15 degrees. Cutting experiments showed that the conduction pathways concerned with pointing and lip flaring are located in eight radial strands consisting of a radial canal, a giant nerve axon and a bundle of small axons with FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity. Application of food juices to sites on the margin and tentacles evoked trains of impulses in the axon bundles (F events; conduction velocity 15.5+/-3.7 cm s(-1)) and in the epithelium lining the radial canals (E events; conduction velocity 28.5+/-3.5 cm s(-1)). Impulses were conducted circularly in the outer nerve ring (F events) or in the ring canal (E events). Unilateral flexions of the manubrium during pointing arise from preferential excitation of one or more of eight longitudinal "muscle bands" in the wall of the manubrium and peduncle. Lip flaring represents symmetrical contraction of all eight bands. Cutting experiments revealed that F events mediate pointing; E events mediate lip flaring. Thus the endodermal radial canals, which in other hydromedusae mediate protective 'crumpling', provide the conduction pathway for manubrial lip flaring. Aglantha's alternative protective response--escape swimming--makes crumpling unnecessary, releasing the pathway for use in feeding. Trains of E events, generated in the manubrium during ingestion, propagate to the margin and inhibit rhythmic (slow) swimming with a duration that depended on their number and frequency. Inhibition of swimming appeared to facilitate transfer of food from the margin to the mouth, but how it comes about is unclear.

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  • The circuits mediating locomotion, feeding, and tentacle contractions in Aglantha are composed of at least 14 distinct neuron types with dedicated functions, including a relay, a carrier, and a pacemaker system.

    “The circuits mediating locomotion, feeding, and tentacle contractions in Aglantha are composed of at least 14 distinct neuron types with dedicated functions, including a relay, a carrier, and a pacemaker system [42,45,73,74].”

    From Back to the Basics: Cnidarians Start to Fire (2017) · cites this paper as [74]

  • Feeding behavior in jellyfish and polyps is highly coordinated and includes nematocyte discharge, tentacle flexing, and lip flaring to ingest prey.

    “Feeding behaviour in jellyfish and polyps also represents another highly coordinated behaviour, including nematocyte discharge, tentacle flexing, and lip flaring to ingest prey [74,92,93].”

    From Back to the Basics: Cnidarians Start to Fire (2017) · cites this paper as [74]

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Authors
Mackie, G. O., Marx, R. M., & Meech, R. W.
Affiliations
  • University of Victoria (CA)
  • Department of Physiology, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
ORCID
Meech, R. W.
Venue
Journal of Experimental Biology
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Published
2003-07-15
Volume
206
Issue
14
Pages
2487-2505
ISSN
  • 0022-0949 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9145
DOI
10.1242/jeb.00450
OpenAlex
W2139059832
Cited by
48
References
42
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Experimental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Explore Bristol Research (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
Aglantha digitale, radial canals, nerve ring, ring canals, conduction velocity, escape swimming, crumpling, hydromedusae
MeSH terms
Animals, Cnidaria, Electrophysiology, Feeding Behavior, Immunohistochemistry, Microscopy, Electron, Nerve Net, Swimming, FMRFamide

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