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Which way is up? Asymmetric spectral input along the dorsal–ventral axis influences postural responses in an amphibious annelid

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Abstract

Medicinal leeches are predatory annelids that exhibit countershading and reside in aquatic environments where light levels might be variable. They also leave the water and must contend with terrestrial environments. Yet, leeches generally maintain a dorsal upward position despite lacking statocysts. Leeches respond visually to both green and near-ultraviolet (UV) light. I used LEDs to test the hypothesis that ventral, but not dorsal UV would evoke compensatory movements to orient the body. Untethered leeches were tested using LEDs emitting at red (632 nm), green (513 nm), blue (455 nm) and UV (372 nm). UV light evoked responses in 100 % of trials and the leeches often rotated the ventral surface away from it. Visible light evoked no or modest responses (12–15 % of trials) and no body rotation. Electrophysiological recordings showed that ventral sensilla responded best to UV, dorsal sensilla to green. Additionally, a higher order interneuron that is engaged in a variety of parallel networks responded vigorously to UV presented ventrally, and both the visible and UV responses exhibited pronounced light adaptation. These results strongly support the suggestion that a dorsal light reflex in the leech uses spectral comparisons across the dorsal–ventral axis rather than, or in addition to, luminance.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Anterior, anterior nerve

APW:

Artificial pond water

CNS:

Central nervous system

DLR:

Dorsal light reflex

DP:

Dorsal, posterior nerve

HD:

High definition

LED:

Light emitting diode

MA:

Median, anterior nerve

ND:

Neutral density

OD:

Optical density

PP:

Posterior, posterior nerve

s#:

Sensillum

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award from the Office of the Vice President for Research at Western Michigan University (W2013-007). I thank Dr. Kevin Blair for his expert knowledge and assistance in examining the spectral and power outputs of LEDs and Dr. Daniel Kueh for advice on statistical analyses. I also thank 2 anonymous reviewers for many helpful suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA

    John Jellies

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Jellies, J. Which way is up? Asymmetric spectral input along the dorsal–ventral axis influences postural responses in an amphibious annelid. J Comp Physiol A 200, 923–938 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-014-0935-x

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