Statomotor system in the marine mollusk Clione limacina

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Abstract
1. In the marine mollusk Clione limacina the "statomotor system" (named by analogy with the oculomotor system) has been found. This system includes a muscle that is directly attached to the statocysts connecting them with each other and with the inner surface of the body. 2. The statocyst muscle consists of four electrically coupled, mononuclear cells. Statocyst muscle cells do not generate spike-like potentials but only excitatory junctional potentials. 3. The motor input to the statocyst muscle correlates with the activity of the locomotor generator. This suggests that in the soft-bodied Clione contraction of the statocyst muscle stabilizes the statocysts into a standard "working" position in relation to coordinates of the body. This statocyst stabilization is important for Clione's spatial orientation during swimming.

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