TY - CHAP
T1 - Optical imaging techniques for investigating the function of earthworm nervous system
AU - Oka, Kotaro
AU - Ogawa, Hiroto
PY - 2013/1/1
Y1 - 2013/1/1
N2 - The earthworm is a suitable animal for investigating the relationships between its behavior and the function of its nervous system. However, this animal has not been widely used for neuroethological research because it is not a model organism. In this chapter, we describe the use of the earthworm as a plausible model for investigating locomotion activity and learning and memory abilities using several optical imaging techniques based on our previous studies. First, we demonstrate the usefulness of this animal briefl y, show its simple nervous system, and then focus on its locomotion mechanism in detail. Especially, we focus on experimental techniques using several fl uorescent dyes, e.g., FM1-43 for functional imaging of specific synapses and DAF for nitric oxide release from the ventral nervous system following different forms of stimulation. Finally, we conclude this chapter with a discussion on future studies of this animal with respect to learning and memory and imaging techniques.
AB - The earthworm is a suitable animal for investigating the relationships between its behavior and the function of its nervous system. However, this animal has not been widely used for neuroethological research because it is not a model organism. In this chapter, we describe the use of the earthworm as a plausible model for investigating locomotion activity and learning and memory abilities using several optical imaging techniques based on our previous studies. First, we demonstrate the usefulness of this animal briefl y, show its simple nervous system, and then focus on its locomotion mechanism in detail. Especially, we focus on experimental techniques using several fl uorescent dyes, e.g., FM1-43 for functional imaging of specific synapses and DAF for nitric oxide release from the ventral nervous system following different forms of stimulation. Finally, we conclude this chapter with a discussion on future studies of this animal with respect to learning and memory and imaging techniques.
KW - Activity-dependent labeling
KW - Ca imaging
KW - Earthworm
KW - Fm dyes
KW - Lipophilic fl uorescent dye
KW - Nitric oxide (no)
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U2 - 10.1007/978-4-431-54331-2_6
DO - 10.1007/978-4-431-54331-2_6
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:84948118671
SN - 9784431543312
SN - 9784431543305
SP - 89
EP - 99
BT - Methods in Neuroethological Research
PB - Springer Japan
ER -