|
Neurophysiological and Behavioral Responses to Olfactory Stimuli in the Snail
Helix pomatia L.
M. VOSS
Institute of Zoology, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Received August 15, 1999
Accepted January 11, 2000
Summary
Some aspects of olfactory sensitivity in the pulmonate Helix
pomatia L. were studied by means of neurophysiological and behavioral
methods. Single fiber recordings were carried out in the olfactory nerve of the
posterior tentacles. Olfactory stimulations with different odors were performed
by means of a continuous air stream. The order of neuronal sensitivity to
different odors was as follows: ethanol ³ ethyl
acetate > pentanol > hexanol > octanol > diethyl malonate > vanillin. Furthermore, the results revealed a relative
specificity for some substances. A comparison between neurophysiological and
behavioral data shows that those substances, which cause the highest increases
in impulse frequency, also evoke a behavioral avoidance reaction.
Key words
Chemosensitivity · Helix pomatia ·
Odor · Olfaction · Snail
Reprint requests
Dr. M. Voss, Institute of Zoology, University of Kiel,
Olshausenstr. 40-60, D- 24098 Kiel, Germany. Fax: (0431) 880-4197; e-mail: mvoss@zoologie.uni-kiel.de
|
