Functional Organization of the Lateral Line Periphery

Münz, Heinrich

doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-3560-6_14

Cited by 96 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Conducting these experiments on the trunk neuromasts of zebrafish larvae allowed these structures to be visualized with Nomarski optics (Metcalfe et al, 1985) while intact on the body. The morphology of these neuromasts changes little over the course of growth (Webb and Shirey, 2003), as in other species (Munz, 1989). Therefore, our results have the potential to be applicable to the superficial neuromasts of a broad diversity of larval and adult fishes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 62%

The flexural stiffness of superficial neuromasts in the zebrafish(Danio rerio) lateral line

McHenry

Netten

2007

Journal of Experimental Biology

102

107

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SUMMARY Superficial neuromasts are structures that detect water flow on the surface of the body of fish and amphibians. As a component of the lateral line system,these receptors are distributed along the body, where they sense flow patterns that mediate a wide variety of behaviors. Their ability to detect flow is governed by their structural properties, yet the micromechanics of superficial neuromasts are not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine these mechanics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae by measuring the flexural stiffness of individual neuromasts. Each neuromast possesses a gelatinous cupula that is anchored to hair cells by kinocilia. Using quasi-static bending tests of the proximal region of the cupula, we found that flexural stiffness is proportional to the number of hair cells, and consequently the number of kinocilia, within a neuromast. From this relationship, the flexural stiffness of an individual kinocilium was found to be 2.4×10–20 N m2. Using this value, we estimate that the 11 kinocilia in an average cupula generate more than four-fifths of the total flexural stiffness in the proximal region. The relatively minor contribution of the cupular matrix may be attributed to its highly compliant material composition (Young's modulus of ∼21 Pa). The distal tip of the cupula is entirely composed of this material and is consequently predicted to be at least an order of magnitude more flexible than the proximal region. These findings suggest that the transduction of flow by a superficial neuromast depends on structural dynamics that are dominated by the number and height of kinocilia.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 62%

The flexural stiffness of superficial neuromasts in the zebrafish(Danio rerio) lateral line

McHenry

Netten

2007

Journal of Experimental Biology

102

107

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“…As in other species (Blaxter and Fuiman, 1989), the lateral line at the larval stage includes only a small number of neuromasts, which are similar to the superficial neuromasts of adult fish (Münz, 1989;Webb and Shirey, 2003). Additionally, almost all of the 31 neuromasts on each side of the body are easily visualized with transmitted illumination because of the transparent bodies of the larvae (McHenry and van Netten, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…The cupulae of canal neuromasts are generally hemispherical with a diameter of hundreds of micrometers. Superficial neuromasts have elongated cupulae that are an order of magnitude smaller in diameter (Münz, 1989) (Fig.·1). In both, water flow causes the cupula to deflect, which is transduced into graded receptor potentials in the hair cells by bundles of stereocilia that are linked to the kinocilia (Gillespie and Walker, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The morphology and mechanical sensitivity of lateral line receptors in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio)

Trump

McHenry

2008

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe lateral line system of fish and amphibians detects water flow with receptors on the surface of the body. Although differences in the shape of these receptors, called neuromasts, are known to influence their mechanics, it is unclear how neuromast morphology affects the sensitivity of the lateral line system. We examined the functional consequences of morphological variation by measuring the dimensions of superficial neuromasts in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio) and mathematically modeling their mechanics. These measurements used a novel morphometric technique that recorded landmarks in three dimensions at a microscopic scale. The mathematical model predicted mechanical sensitivity as the ratio of neuromast deflection to flow velocity for a range of stimulus frequencies. These predictions suggest that variation in morphology within this species generates a greater than 30-fold range in the amplitude of sensitivity and more than a 200-fold range of variation in cut-off frequency. Most of this variation was generated by differences in neuromast height that do not correlate with body position. Our results suggest that natural variation in cupular height within a species is capable of generating large differences in their mechanical filtering and dynamic range.

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“…Since the main purpose of the present study was aimed at understanding the respective auditory roles of SC and WGB, therefore, frequencies lower than 0.4 kHz were not investigated in the present study because many studies have indicated that stimuli below 0.4 kHz could trigger evoked potentials of lateral line which could compound the intended studies of auditory functions (Harris and van Bergeijk 1962;Münz 1989;Kroese and Schellart 1992;Kenyon et al 1998). In experiment 1, hearing threshold levels were determined at the following frequencies: 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 kHz.…”

Section: Hearing Threshold Determinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The auditory roles of the gas bladder and suprabranchial chamber in walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)

2014

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Background: The enhanced auditory abilities of certain fish are dependent on specialized hearing structures. Several gas-holding structures, including the suprabranchial chamber, otic gas bladder, and Weberian apparatus-linked gas bladder, have been demonstrated to improve the hearing ability of fish. The walking catfish (Clarias batrachus), a benthic species, is unique in that it has both a suprabranchial chamber (SC) and a Weberian apparatus-linked, encapsulated gas bladder (WGB). This study aimed to investigate the respective roles of these two structures in contributing to the overall hearing ability of walking catfish. Results: The auditory evoked potentials method was used to measure hearing thresholds in intact fish and fish with a deflated WGB and/or SC. Gas removal from the WGB increased auditory thresholds at all frequencies tested (0.4 to 5.0 kHz), whereas injection of water into the SC shifted the threshold only at frequencies below 3.0 kHz. However, such a correlation was not observed for the SC at 4.0 and 5.0 kHz.

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Functional Organization of the Lateral Line Periphery

Cited by 96 publications

References 29 publications

The flexural stiffness of superficial neuromasts in the zebrafish(Danio rerio) lateral line

The flexural stiffness of superficial neuromasts in the zebrafish(Danio rerio) lateral line

The morphology and mechanical sensitivity of lateral line receptors in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio)

The auditory roles of the gas bladder and suprabranchial chamber in walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)

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