Sea urchins, as echinoderms, occupy an interesting position in animal phylogeny in that they are genetically closer to vertebrates than the vast majority of all other invertebrates but have a nervous system that lacks a brain or brain-like structure. Despite this, very little is known about neurobiology of the adult sea urchin, and how the nervous system, is utilized to produced behavior. Here we investigate effects on the righting response of antagonists of ionotropic receptors for the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, GABA, and glycine, and antagonists of metabotropic receptors for the amines dopamine and norepinephrine. Antagonists slowed the righting response in a dose-dependent manner, with a rank order of potency of strychnine>haloperidol>propranolol>bicuculline>hexamethonium, with RT50s (concentrations that slowed righting time by 50%) ranging from 4.3 µM for strychnine to 7.8 mM for hexamethonium. It is also shown that both glycine and adrenergic receptors are needed for actual tube foot movement, and this may explain the slowed righting seen when these receptors are inhibited. Conversely, inhibition of dopamine receptors slowed the righting response but had no effect on tube foot motility, indicating that these receptors play roles more in the neural processing involved in the righting behavior, rather than the actual physical righting. Our results identity the first effects of inhibiting the glycinergic, dopaminergic, and adrenergic neurotransmitter systems in adult sea urchins and distinguish between the ability of sea urchins to right themselves, and the ability of sea urchins to move their tube feet.
Effects of neurotransmitter receptor antagonists on sea urchin righting behavior and tube foot motility
These authors contributed equally to the work.
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): University of the South Conduff Fund
- Funder(s):
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): University of the South Kresge Fund
- Funder(s):
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): University of the South Sewanee Undergraduate Research Fellowhip
- Funder(s):
Currently Viewing Accepted Manuscript - Newer Version Available
- Split-screen
- Views Icon Views
- Open the PDF for in another window
-
Article Versions Icon
Versions
- Version of Record 28 March 2022
- Accepted Manuscript 28 February 2022
- Share Icon Share
-
Tools Icon
Tools
- Search Site
Morgan McDonald, Natalie Paige Griffin, Emma Howell, Dingchen Li, Sophia Harnew-Spradley, Patrick Rodriguez, Abigail Lancaster, Feza Umutoni, Jordan Besh, Chris Shelley; Effects of neurotransmitter receptor antagonists on sea urchin righting behavior and tube foot motility. J Exp Biol 2022; jeb.243076. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243076
Download citation file:
Advertisement
2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
The JEB Editors are delighted to announce the shortlisted authors for the 2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize. Read the winning paper - Tiny spies: mosquito antennae are sensitive sensors for eavesdropping on frog calls - by Hoover Pantoja-Sanchez and Brian Leavell from Ximena Bernal's lab at Purdue University, USA.
JEB Science Communication Workshop for ECRs
If you’re an early-career researcher interested in science communication and are attending the SEB Annual Conference in Prague this summer, come a day early and join the JEB Editors at a sci comm workshop to learn the key writing skills needed to promote your research to a broad audience beyond your peers (1 July at 14.30-17.30). Places are limited to 24 attendees, and applicants should apply through the SEB registration page by 30 April 2024.
Bridging the gap between controlled conditions and natural habitats in understanding behaviour
Novel technologies enable behavioural experiments with non-model species, in naturalistic habitats and with underexplored behaviours. In their Commentary, Scholz and colleagues discuss how to obtain a deeper understanding of the natural ecology and lifestyle of study animals.
Beluga metabolic measures could help save species
To help save animals from extinction, it’s important to understand what each species needs to survive. This led Jason John et al. to measure the metabolic rates of captive belugas to develop a ‘fish calculator’ showing that the whales need to eat ~23 salmon per day.
ECR Workshop on Positive Peer Review
Are you an ECR looking for tips on how to write concise, astute and useful manuscript reviews? If so, join the JEB Editors at a 2-hour JEB-sponsored Workshop on Positive Peer Review at the Canadian Society of Zoologists annual meeting in Moncton on 9 May 2024 at 13.00-15.00. There are 25 spaces for ECRs and selection is first come, first serve. To sign up, check the ECR Workshop box when you register for the CSZ meeting.