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Central distribution and three-dimensional arrangement of fin chromatophore motoneurons in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Invertebrate Neuroscience

Abstract

Cephalopod body patterning is a most complex invertebrate behavior. Generated primarily by pigment-containing chromatophore organs, this behavior enables rapid alteration of body coloration as a result of direct innervation of chromatophores by motoneurons. This study focuses on location and arrangement of fin chromatophore motoneurons in the cuttlefish Sepia and investigates the possibility of central topography. Retrograde labeling of topographically arranged fin nerve branches in the periphery revealed the posterior subesophageal mass (PSEM) of the brain as the primary location of fin chromatophore motoneurons; within this region, most cells were located in the posterior chromatophore and fin lobes. Additionally, a small percentage of labeled motoneurons occurred in the anterior subesophageal mass and the stellate ganglia. Data from three-dimensional reconstructions of PSEMs showed the arrangement of labeled motoneurons within individual lobes; these data suggest no obvious topographic arrangement. Further, electrical stimulation of the PSEM generated chromatophore activity on the fin and mantle. These stimulation results, coupled with the retrograde labeling, suggest that chromatophore motoneurons are located across multiple PSEM lobes.

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Abbreviations

ACL:

Anterior chromatophore lobe

ASEM:

Anterior subesophageal mass

ASW:

Artificial seawater

BRL:

Brachial lobe

FL:

Fin lobe

HRP:

Horseradish peroxidase

LBL:

Lateral basal lobe

M:

Motor field value

MCL:

Magnocellular lobe

MSEM:

Middle subesophageal mass

PCL:

Posterior chromatophore lobe

PPCL:

Posterior posterior chromatophore lobe

PSEM:

Posterior subesophageal mass

PVL:

Palliovisceral lobe

SEM:

Subesophageal mass

SG:

Stellate ganglion

SupraEM:

Supraesophageal mass

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mark Dow for his assistance with generating the three-dimensional reconstructions, Dr C. Keller for his assistance with statistical analyses, and Dr P.K. Loi for critical comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by NIGMS (T32GM07257).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neuroscience, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA

    Michelle R. Gaston & Nathan J. Tublitz

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  1. Michelle R. Gaston
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  2. Nathan J. Tublitz
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Correspondence to Michelle R. Gaston or Nathan J. Tublitz.

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Gaston, M.R., Tublitz, N.J. Central distribution and three-dimensional arrangement of fin chromatophore motoneurons in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis . Invert Neurosci 6, 81 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10158-006-0021-3

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