Optomotor Behaviour in Xenopus Laevis Tadpoles as a Measure of the Effect of Gravity on Visual and Vestibular Neural Integration
| Autor: | Anton W. Neff, Richard J. Wassersug, Kenneth A. Souza, Scott P. Pronych |
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| Rok vydání: | 1996 |
| Předmět: |
Gravity (chemistry)
genetic structures Physiology Zoology Sensory system Aquatic Science Biology Xenopus laevis Animals Molecular Biology Swimming Vision Ocular Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Vestibular system Larva Hypergravity Behavior Animal Weightlessness Anatomy Space Flight Insect Science Optomotor response Female Animal Science and Zoology Vestibule Labyrinth sense organs Clinostat Gravitation |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Experimental Biology. 199:2689-2701 |
| ISSN: | 1477-9145 0022-0949 |
| Popis: | The ability of aquatic vertebrates to maintain their position requires integration of visual and vestibular sensory information. To understand better how aquatic animals integrate such information, we measured the optomotor behaviour of Xenopus laevis tadpoles raised in growth chambers in microgravity ( Significant differences were observed in the optomotor behaviour among the four gravity treatments. When first exposed to normal gravity, the microgravity-raised tadpoles exhibited the strongest (or most positive) optomotor behaviour, while the 3 g centrifuge tadpoles showed no optomotor response. Some abnormal behaviours (such as erratic swimming, lying motionless and abnormal swimming posture) were observed in the tadpoles raised in altered gravity on the initial day of testing. One day later, the tadpoles raised in hypergravity did not differ significantly in their optomotor behaviour from control tadpoles raised in normal gravity. However, tadpoles raised in microgravity still displayed an exaggerated optomotor response. One week after the tadpoles had been introduced to normal gravity, there was no longer a significant difference in optomotor behaviour among the different gravity treatments. This convergence of optomotor behaviour by tadpoles from the different treatments reflects the acclimation of their vestibular systems to normal gravity. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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