From synaptic input to muscle contraction: arm muscle cells of Octopus vulgaris show unique neuromuscular junction and excitation-contraction coupling properties.

ABSTRACT: The muscular-hydrostat configuration of octopus arms allows high manoeuvrability together with the efficient motor performance necessary for its multitasking abilities. To control this flexible and hyper-redundant system the octopus has evolved unique strategies at the various levels of its brain-to-body organization. We focus here on the arm neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and excitation-contraction (E-C) properties of the arm muscle cells. We show that muscle cells are cholinergically innervated at single eye-shaped locations where acetylcholine receptors (AChR) are concentrated, resembling the vertebrate neuromuscular endplates. Na⁺ and K⁺ contribute nearly equally to the ACh-activated synaptic current mediating membrane depolarization, thereby activating voltage-depe

SUBMITTER: Nesher N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6732383 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature