Summary
The abdominal ganglia of the crayfish Astacus pallipes contain numerous vertebrate-like synapses which are characterized by presynaptic vesicles, darkened pre- and post-synaptic membranes, cleft material, and post-synaptic “fuzz”. Such synapses occur throughout the ganglia but are most easily found dorsally, where the neuropile is relatively coarse. The neuropile is far from homogeneous. Regional variations in fiber size, in degree of profile tortuosity, and in kind, magnitude, and distribution of vesicular content result in conspicuous textural variations. The structural polarity of synapses between the lateral giant fibers and other neurons is consistent with known physiological polarity and, hence, validates our criteria for recognition of synapses within the ganglion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amoroso, E. C., Baxter, M. I., Chiquoine, A. D., Nisbet, R. H.: The fine structure of neurons and other elements in the nervous system of the giant African land snail Archachatina marginata. Proc. roy. Soc. B 160, 167–180 (1964).
Asada, Y., Bennett, M. V. L.: Experimental alteration of coupling resistance at an electrotonic synapse. J. Cell Biol. 49, 159–172 (1971).
Atwood, H. L.: Crustacean neuromuscular mechanisms. Amer. Zool. 7, 527–551 (1967).
Atwood, H. L., Jones, A.: Presynaptic inhibition in crustacean muscle: axo-axonal synapse. Experientia (Basel) 23, 1036–1038 (1967).
Best, J. B., Noel, J.: Complex synaptic configurations in planarian brain. Science 164, 1070–1071 (1969).
Bloom, F. E.: Correlating structure and function of synaptic ultrastructure. In: The neurosciences. Second study program (F. O. Schmitt ed.), p. 729–747. New York: Rockefeller U. Press 1970.
Bodian, D.: An electron microscopic characterization of classes of synaptic vesicles by means of controlled aldehyde fixation. J. Cell Biol. 44, 115–124 (1970).
Bohm, M. K., Parker, R. A.: The fine structure of daphnid supraesophageal and optic ganglia, and its possible functional significance. J. Morph. 126, 373–394 (1968).
Brightman, M. W., Reese, T. S.: Junctions between intimately apposed cell membranes in the vertebrate brain. J. Cell Biol. 40, 648–677 (1969).
Coggeshall, R. E.: A fine structural analysis of the ventral nerve cord and associated sheath of Lumbricus terrestris L. J. comp. Neurol. 125, 393–438 (1965).
Coggeshall, R. E.: A light and electron microscope study of the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 1263–1288 (1967).
Coggeshall, R. E., Fawcett, D. W.: The fine structure of the central nervous system of the leech. Hirudo medicinalis, J. Neurophysiol. 27, 229–289 (1964).
Davis, W. J.: Motoneuron morphology and synaptic contacts: Determination by intracellular dye injection. Science 168, 1358–1360 (1970).
Eloffsson, R., Kauri, T., Nielsen, S. O., Stromberg, J. O.: Localization of monoaminergic neurons in the central nervous system of Astacus astacus Linné (Crustacea). Z. Zellforsch. 74, 464–473 (1966).
Furshpan, E. J., Potter, D. D.: Transmission at the giant motor synapses of the crayfish. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 145, 289–325 (1959).
Gray, E. G., Young, J. Z.: Electron microscopy of synaptic structure of Octopus brain. J. Cell Biol. 21, 87–103 (1964).
Hama, K.: Some observations on the fine structure of the giant nerve fibers of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 6, 61–66 (1959).
Hama, K.: Some observations on the fine structure of the giant fibers of the crayfishes (Cambarus virilus and Cambarus clarkii) with special reference to the submicroscopic organization of the synapses. Anat. Rec. 141, 275–294 (1961).
Hamori, J., Horridge, G. A.: The lobster optic lamina. II. Types of synapse. J. Cell Sci. 1, 257–270 (1966).
Harreveld, A. van: A physiological solution for freshwater crustaceans. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N. Y.) 34, 428–432 (1936).
Heuser, J. E., Doggenever, C. F.: The fine structural organization of nerve fibers, sheaths, and glial cells in the prawn, Palaemonetes vulgaris. J. Cell Biol. 30, 381–405 (1966).
Hökfelt, T.: On the ultrastructural localization of noradrenaline in the central nervous system of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 79, 110–117 (1967).
Hökfelt, T.: In vitro studies on central and peripheral monoamine neurons at the ultrastructural level. Z. Zellforsch. 91, 1–74 (1968).
Holtzman, E., Freeman, A. R., Kashner, L. A.: A cytochemical and electron microscope study of channels in the Schwann cells surrounding lobster giant axons. J. Cell Biol. 44, 438–445 (1970).
Johnson, G. E.: Giant nerve fibers in crustaceans with special reference to Cambarus and Palaemonetes. J. comp. Neurol. 36, 323–373 (1924).
Kendig, J. J.: Structure and function in the third abdominal ganglion of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard). J. exp. Zool. 164, 1–20 (1967).
Kennedy, D., Selverston, A. I., Remler, M. P.: Analysis of restricted neural networks. Science 164, 1488–1496 (1969).
Komuro, T.: Unusual neuromuscular junctions in the heart of the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Z. Zellforsch. 105, 317–324 (1970).
Krasne, F. B.: Excitation and habituation of the crayfish escape reflex: The depolarizing response in lateral giant fibres of the isolated abdomen, J. exp. Biol. 50, 29–46 (1969).
Krieger, K. R.: Über das Centralnervensystem des Flußkrebses. Z. wiss. Zool. 33, 527–594 (1880).
Kusano, K., Grundfest, H.: Circus reexcitation as a cause of repetitive activity in crayfish lateral giant axons. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 65 (1965).
Lamparter, H. E.: Die strukturelle Organization des Prothorakalganglions bei der Waldameise (Formica lugubris Zett.). Z. Zellforsch. 74, 198–232 (1966).
Lund, R. D., Westrum, L. E.: Synaptic vesicle differences after primary formalin fixation. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 185, 7P-9P (1966).
Mancini, G., Frontali, N.: Fine structure of the mushroom body neuropile of the brain of the roach Periplaneta americana. Z. Zellforsch. 83, 334–343 (1967).
Martin, A. R., Pilar, G.: Transmission through the ciliary ganglion of the chick. J. Physiol. (LOnd.) 168, 464–475 (1963).
Nadol, J. B. Jr., de Lorenzo, A. J. D.: Observations on the abdominal stretch receptor and the fine structure of associated axo-dendritic synapses and neuromuscular junctions in Homarus. J. comp. Neurol. 132, 419–444 (1968).
Pappas, G. D., Asada, Y., Bennett, M. V. L.: Morphological correlates of increased coupling resistance at an electrotonic synapse. J. Cell Biol. 49, 173–188 (1971).
Pease, D. C.: Histological techniques for electron microscopy. New York: Academic Press 1964.
Remler, M., Selverston, A., Kennedy, D.: Lateral giant fibers of crayfish: Location of somata by dye injection. Science 162, 282–283 (1968).
Roberts, A. M.: Recurrent inhibition in the giant-fibre system of the crayfish and its effect on the excitability of the escape response. J. exp. Biol. 48, 545–567 (1968).
Robertson, J. D.: Ultrastructure of excitable membranes of the crayfish median-giant synapse. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 94, 339–389 (1961).
Shivers, R. R.: Fine structure of crayfish optic ganglia. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 47, 677–733 (1967).
Smith, D. S., Treherne, J.: Functional aspects of the organization of the insect nervous system. Adv. Insect. Physiol. 1, 401–484 (1963).
Steiger, U.: Über den Feinbau des Neuropils im Corpus pedunculatum der Waldameise. Z. Zellforsch. 81, 511–537 (1967).
Tonosaki, A.: The fine structure of the retinal plexus in Octopus vulgaris. Z. Zellforsch. 65, 521–532 (1965).
Uchizono, K.: Inhibitory synapses on the stretch receptor neurons of the crayfish. Nature (Lond.) 214, 833 (1967).
Valdivia, O.: Methods of fixation and the morphology of synaptic vesicles Anat. Rec. 166, 392 (1970).
Watanabe, A., Grundfest, H.: Impulse propagation at the septal and commissural junctions of crayfish lateral giant axons. J. gen. Physiol. 45, 267–304 (1961).
Wiersma, C. A. G.: Giant nerve fiber system of the crayfish. A contribution to comparative physiology of synapse. J. Neurophysiol. 10, 23–38 (1947).
Wiersma, C. A. G., Schallek, W.: Influence of drugs on response of a crustacean synapse to preganglionic stimulation. J. Neurophysiol. 11, 491–496 (1948).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors wish to thank Drs. Andrew Dorey and Vernon Barber for very helpful discussions and advice. We also wish to thank Drs. Donald Kennedy, Paula Orkand, Alan Roberts, and Jeffrey Wine for comments on versions of the manuscript.
F.B.K. is especially grateful to Prof. G. M. Hughes for extending to him the hospitality of the Bristol Zoology Department and to Dr. Dorey for introducing him to the methods of electron microscopy.
This work was supported by USPHS Grant 1-R01-NB-08108-NP.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Krasne, F.B., Stirling, C.A. Synapses of crayfish abdominal ganglia with special attention to afferent and efferent connections of the lateral giant fibers. Z.Zellforsch 127, 526–544 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306869
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306869