Premium
Proprioceptive endings in the myotomes of the pickerel (Teleostei: Esocidae)
Author(s) -
Ono R. D.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1982.tb02857.x
Subject(s) - proprioception , free nerve ending , biology , anatomy , teleostei , prehensile tail , afferent , sensory system , neuroscience , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
Simple spray nerve endings of axons with a large diameter (15 μm) were located in the stratum compactum overlying the myotomal muscles in the pickerels, Esox niger and E. americanus . Based on the location of these nerve endings within the interwoven collagenous fibre matrix comprising the stratum compactum, and on the lack of reactivity to cholinesterase treatment, it is suggested that the endings are sensory in function and may be used as proprioceptors. These putative proprioceptors may aid the pickerel in monitoring the position of the body, (1) during ambush prey capture where the pickerel must lie motionless with as little disturbance in the water column as possible, and (2) in counteracting unwanted hydrodynamic forces such as pitch or roll brought about by sudden stopping of forward movement immediately following prey capture. This is the first report of proprioceptive endings associated with locomotor musculature in teleost fishes.