Evidence for Chemoreception in Squid Olfactory Organ
Abstract
We have examined the effects of chemical stimuli on the putative olfactory organ of the squid Loligo opalescens. Chemosensory capabilities were studied both at the behavioral level in living squid and at the individual receptor cell level using whole-cell voltage clamp. We found that low concentrations of certain test substances reproducibly elicited escape responses in living, restrained squid. Taking advantage of this link between chemoreception and motor pathways, we were able to map the region of highest chemosensitivity directly to the olfactory organ which is a small knob located in an ear-like flap lateral to each eye. 'Ablation' experiments, which were performed by treating the olfactory organ with a local anesthetic, further confirmed that the olfactory organ was the site of chemoreception. In examining isolated receptor cells, we found at least three morphologies, similar those described by Emery in ultrastructural studies (1975). Voltage clamp experiments on the two most common cell types (pyriform and floriform) showed that they contain neuronal-like Na and K channels. (jes)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 29, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222648
Entities
People
- Frank T. Horrigan
- Mary T. Lucero
- William Gilly
Organizations
- Stanford University