Neuronal organization of crayfish escape behavior: inhibition of giant motoneuron via a disynaptic pathway from other motoneurons

Abstract

1. A circuit that produces a 70-100 ms IPSP in the crayfish giant motoneuron is described. The IPSP is produced by a disynaptic pathway from the nongiant fast flexor motoneurons to the motor giant. 2. An inhibitory interneuron in the pathway has been identified. Its axon runs at least the entire length of the abdominal nervous system. The inhibitory interneuron is excited bilaterally in all abdominal ganglia except the last and bilaterally inhibits the motor giants thoughout the abdominal CNS. 3. Evidence for a monosynaptic connection between the interneuron and the motor giant includes short latency, stability during repetitive stimulation, gradual decrement in high-Mg2+ solutions, and persistence in high-Ca2+ solutions. Similar but less complete evidence suggests a monosynaptic connection from the fast flexor motoneurons to the inhibitory interneuron. 4. A single impulse in the inhibitor can produce a prolonged IPSP in the motor giant. The inhibitor did not display trains of impulses and was not spontaneously active. 5. The inhibitory interneuron appears to be highly specific; no other outputs were observed. 6. Direct stimulation of axons in the connectives suggests that four pairs of inhibitory interneurons converge on the motor giants; at least two pairs are activated by the fast flexor motoneurons. 7. This circuit limits the burst duration of the motor giant and may function to protect the motor giant's depression-prone neuromuscular junction.