Name: muscle receptor organs in the crayfish abdomen: a student laboratory exercise in proprioception
Uploaded: 2010-11-18T17:00:00
Duration: 10 min 50 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Muscle Receptor Organs in the Crayfish Abdomen: A Student Laboratory Exercise in Proprioception at JoVE.com

Supported by University of Kentucky, Department of Biology, Office of Undergraduate Studies and College of Arts &amp; Sciences.

<ol>
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No conflicts of interest declared.

The details provided in the associated movie and text have provided key steps in order to sufficiently record the activity in the MRO of the crayfish in situ. One goal of our report is to increase the awareness in the potential for this preparation in student run investigative laboratories to teach fundamental concepts in sensory physiology. The preparations are very robust in viability while being bathed in a minimal saline.
The motor control on the MRO muscles has been identified but the regulation in transmission and the potential of synaptic plasticity as well as efficacy of transmission for the excitatory and inhibitory neurons remains an open area for investigation (Elekes and Florey, 1987a,b; Florey and Florey, 1955; Kuffler, 1954; Kuffler and Eyzaguirre, 1955).
This preparation can be used to investigate a number of experimental conditions as well as the natural range of locomotion within the animal to better understand the biology of the MRO for primary research as well as demonstrative purposes. The biophysical properties of these sensory neurons has in part been addressed in their nature of adaptation in the neural activity with a maintained stimulus (Brown et al, 1978; Edwards et al., 1981; Purali, 1997; Rydqvist and Purali,1991; Rydqvist and Swerup, 1991). However, only a few reports address neuromodulation on these sensory receptors and associated muscle fibers (Cooper et al., 2003; Pasztor and Macmillan, 1990). The reports deal with only a few of the many compounds that are known to be present in the hemolymph. Many modulators and cocktails of modulators remain to be examined on the MRO complex (muscles and neurons). Pasztor and Macmillan (1990) did examine the neuromodulators 5-HT and octopamine on the activity of MROs among various crustacean species and noted that there are species differences. They did not examine in detail the long-term influences of these neuromodulators nor the effects on activity at different static positions of the MRO.
This type of preparation can aid in understanding the basis of sensory perception and regulation of neural processing which is important in rehabilitation and disease management for humans with motor unit abnormities (Patel et al., 2009; Rabin et al., 2009; Marino et al., 2010). The various types of input and firing patterns for monitoring joint movements in accessible invertebrate preparations can be used in robotics/prosthesis (Macmillan and Patullo, 2001). There are still many questions awaiting answers in this preparation that can be beneficial in a number of ways.

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muscle receptor organs in the crayfish abdomen: a student laboratory exercise in proprioception

The primary purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate primary sensory neurons conveying information of joint movements and positions as proprioceptive information for an animal. An additional objective of this experiment is to learn anatomy of the preparation by staining, dissection and viewing of neurons and sensory structures under a dissecting microscope. This is performed by using basic neurophysiological equipment to record the electrical activity from a joint receptor organ and staining techniques. The muscle receptor organ (MRO) system in the crayfish is analogous to the intrafusal muscle spindle in mammals, which aids in serving as a comparative model that is more readily accessible for electrophysiological recordings. In addition, these are identifiable sensory neurons among preparations. The preparation is viable in a minimal saline for hours which is amenable for student laboratory exercises. The MRO is also susceptible to neuromodulation which encourages intriguing questions in the sites of modulatory action and integration of dynamic signals of movements and static position along with a gain that can be changed in the system.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Muscle Receptor Organs in the Crayfish Abdomen: A Student Laboratory Exercise in Proprioception at JoVE.com

Muscle Receptor Organs in the Crayfish Abdomen: A Student Laboratory Exercise in Proprioception

The primary purpose of this experiment is to understand how primary sensory neurons convey information of joint movements and positions as proprioceptive information for an animal. An additional objective of this report is present the anatomy of the preparation by dissection and viewing of neurons under a dissecting microscope.

The primary purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate primary sensory neurons conveying information of joint movements and positions as proprioceptive ...

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