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Rhopalia are integrated parts of the central nervous system in box jellyfish

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Author

Summary, in English

In cubomedusae, the central nervous system (CNS) is found both in the bell (the ring nerve) and in the four eye-bearing sensory structures (the rhopalia). The ring nerve and the rhopalia are connected via the rhopalial stalks and examination of the structure of the rhopalial stalks therefore becomes important when trying to comprehend visual processing. In the present study, the rhopalial stalk of the cubomedusae Tripedalia cystophora has been examined by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electrophysiology. A major part of the ring nerve is shown to continue into the stalk and to contact the rhopalial neuropil directly. Ultrastructural analysis of synapse distribution in the rhopalial stalk has failed to show any clustering, which indicates that integration of the visual input is probably spread throughout the CNS. Together, the results indicate that cubomedusae have one coherent CNS including the rhopalia. Additionally, a novel gastrodermal nerve has been found in the stalk; this nerve is not involved in visual processing but is likely to be mechanosensory and part of a proprioceptory system.

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Pages

333-343

Publication/Series

Cell and Tissue Research

Volume

325

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Cell Biology

Keywords

  • CNS
  • synapse
  • Tripedalia cystophora
  • (Cnidaria : Cubozoa)
  • jellyfish
  • eyes
  • rhopalia

Status

Published

Research group

  • Lund Vision Group

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1432-0878