Simpler Nervous Systems: (No 13 Studies in neuroscience)

A consideration of the nervous systems of invertebrates focusing on the simple nervous systems found in free living and parasitic worms and gastropods. The study examines basic principles of behaviour and nervous control, as well as considering the role of ions, receptors and specific neurones. The first part of the book gives an overview of the diversity of neuroactive molecules and the book then considers examples of conserved primitivity as in the case of elements in the gut epithelium of polychaete worms and the digestive tract epithelium of bivalve molluscs. The following chapters focus on the cellular monoamines found in free living and parasitic worms and the final section of the book considers the use of gastropod models in the elucidation of the role of ions, receptors and specific neurones and in determining the basis of nervous control and behaviour.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Evolutionary diversity of neuroactive molecules: regulatory oligopeptides of invertebrates - structure, functions, location, A.A.Zamyatnin; neuroactive spider venoms, B.A.Tashmukhamedov and P.B.Usmanov. Part 2 Intraepithelial control systems - examples of conserved primitivity: fine structural organization in the nervous system and ciliary receptors of acoelan turbellarians, O.I.Raikova; the system of nerve and endocrine-like elements in the gut epithelium of polychaete worms, M.Yu Punin and V.K. Kazakov; regulatory system in the digestive tract epithelium of bivalve molluscs, M.Yu Punin et al. Part 3 Cellular monoamines in free living and parasitic worms: catecholamine cells in turbellarian flatworms, B.I.Joffe and E.A.Kotikova; distribution of monoaminergic neurones in helminths, B.A.Shishov; serotonin neurones in the planarian pharynx, E.A.Kabotyanski et al; biogenic amines in helminths, N.Terenina. Part 4 Gastropod models - ions and receptors: intracellular electrolyte concentrations and ion selectivity in neurones of the gastropod mollusc Planorbarius corneus, as revealed by x-ray microanalysis, N.B.Pivovarova and I.A.Skulskii; ionic conductance induced by the activation of nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in Helix neurones, G.N.Saganelidze and A.S.Pivovarov; modulatory action of oxytocin on electrical responses of the neurones in the snail Helix pomatia, O.N.Osipenko. Part 5 Gastropod models - cellular plasticity: long-term enhancement of synaptic efficiency in Helix brain, O.V.Borisova and V.G.Skrebitsky; effects of guanylate cyclase activators on short-term plasticity of cholinergic receptors of Helix identified neurones, A.S,Pivovarov. Part 6 Gastropod models - specific neurones: structural organization of the tentacular sensory system in land pulmonates, O.V.Zaitseva; structural and functional analysis of monosynaptic connections between identifiable neurones of Helix lucorum, G.G.Arakelov et al; roles of exogenous factors in bursting activity of snail neurone, N.I.Kononenko. Part 7 Gastropod models - cellular basis of behaviour: locomotion of Clione limacina in relation to various types of behaviour, Yu I.Arshavsky et al; serotonergic modulation of avoidance behaviour in Helix, I.S.Zakharov and P.M.Balaban; role of peptides in modulating the avoidance response during feeding in Helix lucorum, A.V.Shevelkin; neuronal control and coordination of heartbeat in Helix pomatia, V.L.Zhuravlev et al. Part 8 Gastropod models - basic principles of nervous control: command neurones, command functions and decision-making, P.N.Balaban; multiple sites of intracellular spike generation in snail neurones, T.A.Palikhova.