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Ontogeny of rhythmic motor networks in the stomatogastric nervous system

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Abstract

We used the lobster Homarus gammarus to study the ontogeny of neural networks involved in rhythmic behaviours. Since in the adult the neural networks belonging to the stomatogastric nervous system and controlling the rhythmic movements of the foregut are well characterised, we have studied them during ontogeny. While this foregut develops slowly throughout embryonic and larval stages, the neuronal population of these motor networks is quantitatively established since the mid-embryonic period. Moreover, in the embryo, this neural population is organised into a single functional network that displays a unique motor output. By contrast, in the adult the same neuronal elements are organised into three neural networks that express independent motor programs. Our results indicate that the multiple adult networks are partitioned progressively from a single embryonic network during development.

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Accepted: 23 May 1999

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Casasnovas, B., Fénelon, V. & Meyrand, P. Ontogeny of rhythmic motor networks in the stomatogastric nervous system. J Comp Physiol A 185, 361–365 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003590050395

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003590050395

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