The Journal of Neuroscience, June 1, 2002, 22(11):4418-4427
A Functional Asymmetry in the Leech Heartbeat Timing Network Is
Revealed by Driving the Network across Various Cycle Periods
Mark A.
Masino and
Ronald
L.
Calabrese
Biology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
We tested predictions of a computational model (Hill et al., 2002)
of the leech heartbeat timing network. The timing network consists of
two segmental oscillators located in the third (G3) and fourth (G4)
segmental ganglia. Each oscillator consists of two reciprocally
inhibitory oscillator interneurons along with the coordinating
interneuron fibers that link them. In the model, the network was driven
to cycle periods around the normal period of the network by repeatedly
stimulating one of the paired oscillator interneurons in G3 or G4. Here
we replicate these experiments in the biological system.
The model predicts that the G3 and G4 oscillators can entrain the
timing network to periods faster but not slower than the inherent
period of the nondriven ("follower") oscillator and that they can
do so symmetrically. The biological system can be driven to periods
both faster (such that the driven oscillator leads in phase) and slower
(such that the driven oscillator lags in phase) than the inherent
period of the timing network. Although both oscillators can entrain the
network, the G4 oscillator does so over a narrower range of periods.
Two differences between the assumptions of the model and the properties
of the biological network, spike frequency adaptation in coordinating
interneurons and asymmetry in the connections from the oscillator
interneurons to the coordinating interneurons, may account for these discrepancies.
Individual coordinating interneurons were also able to entrain the
oscillators but with little effect of the phase relationship between
the oscillators, suggesting that phase relations are determined by
properties inherent to the oscillator interneurons.
Key words:
neuronal oscillator; central pattern generator; Hirudo medicinalis; neural network; entrainment; phase
Copyright © 2002 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/02/22114418-10$05.00/0