Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Sensory nerve endings of highly mobile structures in two marine teleost fishes

  • Published:
Zoomorphologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

With the use of a whole mount silver impregnation technique, sensory nerve endings were located in the connective tissue at the base of the modified pectoral fin ray in the gurnard,Aspitrigla cuculus, and within the perichondrium of the barbel in the goatfish,Mullus surmuletus. The location of these endings and their planar receptory fields in such highly mobile structures, suggests that the sensory endings are proprioceptive in nature and that they are associated in monitoring the positional state of the modified pectoral fin ray and barbel, respectively, during voluntary movement. This investigation addresses itself to the general problem of proprioception in teleost fishes and provides histological evidence for the presence of proprioceptive nerve endings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ballintijn, C.M., Bamford, O.S.: Proprioceptive motor control in fish respiration. J. exp. Biol.,62, 99–114 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardach, J.E., Case, J.: Sensory capabilities of the modified fins of squirrel hake (Urophycis chuss) and searobins (Prionotus carolinus andP. evolans). Copeia., (2), 194–206 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker, D.: Muscle Receptors. Handbook of Sensory Physiology. Vol. III/2, pp. 1–310. Springer-Verlag (1974)

  • Belling, D.E.: Der Bau der vorderen paarigen ExtremitÄten und des Schultergürtels der Trigla im Zusammenhang mit dem Bau entsprechender Organe bei anderen Teleostei. Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou Année 1911, 46–92 (1912)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone, Q.: Some notes on histological methods for peripheral nerves. Med. Lab. Tech.,29, 319–324 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone, Q.: Patterns of muscular innervation in the lower chordates. Int. Rev. of Neurobiol.,6, 99–147 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciaccio, G.V.: Sur les plaques nerveuses finales dans les tendons des vertébrés. Archiv. Ital. de Biol.,14, 31–57 (1890–91)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fessard, A., Sand, A.: Stretch receptors in the muscles of fishes. J. exp. Biol.,14(4), 383–404 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrick, C.J.: The tactile centers in the spinal cord and brain of the sea robin,Prionotus carolinus L. J. Comp. Neurol. and Psychol.,17 (4), 307–327 (1907)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, W.: (1967). — Cited by D. Barker, Muscle Receptors. Handbook of Sensory Physiology. Vol. III/2. pp. 137. Springer-Verlag, (1974)

  • Jobert, M.: Etudes d'anatomie comparée sur les organes du toucher chez divers mammifères, oiseaux, poissons et insectes. Annls. Sci. nat, (5 Zool.)16, 1–160 (1872)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowenstein, O.: Pressure receptors in the fins of the dogfish,Scyliorhinus canicula. J. exp. Biol.,33, 417–421 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrill, A.D.: The pectoral appendages ofPrionotus and their innervation. J. Morph.,11, 177–197 (1895)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pansini, S.: Delle terminazioni dei nervi sui tendini nei Vertebrati. Boll. Soc. Nat. Napoli., (1)2, 135–160 (1888)

    Google Scholar 

  • Poláček, P.: Receptors of the joints, their structure, variability, and classification. Acta. Facult. Med. Universit. Brünn.,23, 1–107 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Poloumordwinoff, D.: Recherches sur les terminaisons nerveuses sensitives dans les muscles volontaires. Société Scientifique et Station Zoologique d'Arcachon.,3, 73–79 (1898)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B.: The response of a proprioceptor to the undulatory movements of dogfish. J. exp. Biol.,51, 775–785 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sato, M.: Preliminary report on the barbels of a Japanese goatfish,Upeneoides bensasi (Temminck and Schlegel), Sci. Rep. Tohoku Imp. Univ., Biol.,11, 259–264 (1937a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scharrer, E.: Intraepithelial nerve terminals in the free finrays of the searobin,Prionotus carolinus. L. Anat. Rec,145 (2), 367–368 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharrer, E., Smith, S.W., Palay, S.L.: Chemical sense and taste in the fishesPrionotus andTrichogaster. J. Comp. Neurol.,86, 183–198 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiedemann, V.: Von dem Hirn und den fingerförmigen FortsÄtzen der Triglen. Meckel's Arch.,2, 103–110 (1816)

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkelmann, R.K., Schmitt, R.W.: A simple silver method for nerve axoplasm. Proc. Staff Meeting Mayo Clinic,32, 217 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wunderer, H.: über Terminalkörperchen der Anamnien. Archiv für mikroskop. Anat. Entwicklungs-mech.71, 504–569 (1908)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    R. D. Ono

Authors
  1. R. D. Ono
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ono, R.D. Sensory nerve endings of highly mobile structures in two marine teleost fishes. Zoomorphologie 92, 107–114 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01001533

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01001533

Keywords