Input and output organization of cerebral neurones responding to tactile and taste stimuli applied to the lip of Helix pomatia L

Abstract

Mechano- and chemoafferent responsiveness as well as outputs of identified cerebral neurones were investigated by electrophysiological methods in Helix pomatia L. the axonal projections of the identified cells were studied by intracellular staining. The studied neurones proved to be unipolar, their main axon branches were found in ipsilateral lip nerves. They could be divided into several groups according to their spontaneous activity, input and output organization and the selectivity of their responses to different tactile and taste stimuli applied to the lip. The activity of most of the neurones could be influenced by both ipsi- and contralateral inputs. They receive afferent input mostly through the medial lip nerves and their efferent information is transferred to the periphery mainly through the pair of inner lip nerves. There were seven neurones among the identified cells which responded selectively to taste stimuli identified in previous behavioural tests as phagostimulants. They can be considered as elements of the cerebral system regulating taste discrimination and feeding.