The allelochemical tannic acid affects the locomotion and feeding behaviour of the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, by inhibiting peripheral pathways

Abstract

(1) The effect of tannic acid (TA), a dominant component of plant allelochemicals, was investigated on the locomotion and feeding of the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis . The effect of TA on the neuronal background underlying feeding activity was also analysed. (2) TA affected the spontaneous locomotion and of juvenile snails in a concentration-dependent way. Low (10 μM) TA concentration resulted in an increased (sliding or swimming) activity compared to the control; meanwhile, high (100 μM) TA concentration inhibited the locomotion of the animals. (3) Low (10 μM) TA concentration increased the frequency of sucrose-evoked feeding of intact animals, whereas high (100 μM) TA concentration resulted in significantly longer feeding latency and decreased feeding rate. The feeding changes proved to be partially irreversible, since after 48 h maintained in clear water, the animals tested in 100 μM TA previously still showed lower feeding rate in sucrose. (4) Electrophysiological experiments on semi-intact preparations showed that application of 100 μM TA to the lip area inhibited the fictive feeding pattern of central neurons, the cellular response to sucrose. (5) On isolated CNS preparation, 100 μM TA applied in the bathing solution, however, failed to inhibit the activation of the central feeding (CPG) interneurons following application of extracellular dopamine. Our results suggest that TA affects both afferent and efferent peripheral functions in Lymnaea . TA reduces feeding activity by primarily blocking feeding sensory pathways, and its negative effect on locomotion may imply sensory pathways and/or ciliary activity.

Behavioral, Biochemical, and Histological Evaluation of Artificial Light on Infected Freshwater Snails Bimophalaria alexandrina by Schistosoma mansoni

“…However, the neuromodulator role of monoamines has been well confirmed in the regulation of snail locomotion (Pavlova, 2019). It is assumed that light information influences ciliary activity directly, either by directly influencing 5-HT receptors or by hitting the serotonergic regulatory pathway(s) via an afferent-efferent system that includes receptor cells on the foot's surface and central (pedal) serotonergic efferent elements (Vehovszky et al, 2019). More investigations are needed to establish the stress level that LED light offers to the aquatic environment, including snails.…”

Chemical-neuroanatomical organization of peripheral sensory-efferent systems in the pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)

“…These types of local networks including interaction between the sensory and efferent elements may ensure fast and definitive responses to different sensory stimuli. In a recent study on Lymnea , Vehovszky et al ( 2019 ) have demonstrated that following the application of the allelochemical tannic acid, both the afferent and efferent peripheral functions were affected. Feeding activity was reduced by blocking the sensory pathway and the locomotion activity was also inhibited, supposedly also through the sensory afferents.…”