STIMULATION OF THE CHEMORECEPTORS OF THE SEA CATFISH BY DILUTE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTIONS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Electrophysiological studies with the facial chemoreceptive fibers in the sea catfish (Plotosus anguillaris) showed that the chemoreceptors of the lips display a high sensitivity to dilute solutions of electrolytes having monovalent cations, as found in the palatal chemoreceptors of the carp. No appreciable responses to dilute solutions of electrolytes having polyvalent cations were observed. Anions may play an important role in the stimulation of the chemoreceptors. The response magnitude was dependent upon the valency of the anion: the larger the valency, the greater the response. The influences of supporting electrolytes upon the chemoreceptor response were investigated. A strong depressing action of polyvalent cations was demonstrated. Studies on the effects of previous treatments with acid, alkali and dye salts yielded opposite results to those obtained by the carp, suggesting negatively charged reacting surfaces of the chemoreceptor membranes of the sea catfish. An explanation of the possible mechanism of the receptor stimulation is given in terms of an inter-facial physicochemical model.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: