The Purple Sea Urchin (S. purpuratus) Utilizes AMPA-type Glutamate Receptors in the Righting Response
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Authors
Jordan, Rowan
Besch, Jordan
Rodriguez, Patrick
Lancaster, Abigail
Shelley, Chris
Issue Date
2021-05-07
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Scholarship Sewanee 2021 , Biology , Neurobiology , Sea Urchins
Alternative Title
Abstract
While the developmental and reproductive systems of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, have been studied for many years, there is little known about the neurobiology of the adult sea urchin. There has been little research into the underlying neurotransmitter processes behind the sensory, behavior, and motor systems of this widely used model organism. To further our understanding of S. purpuratus neurotransmitters, righting and motility assays were used to indicate if AMPA-type glutamate receptors were present and affected urchin movement and behavior. Righting responses were conducted by inverting the urchin and recording the amount of time taken for the urchin to right itself. Motility assays were performed by isolating the urchin in a small tank and using Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS) to analyze the number of urchin tube foot movements. Righting and motility assays were recorded after drug immersion in varying concentrations of glutamate and decanoic acid, an AMPA receptor inhibitor, in DMSO. High concentrations of glutamate were used in an attempt to desensitize AMPA glutamate receptors and block transmission. However, glutamate had little to no effect on the righting response and motility. Decanoic acid was then used to investigate the role of AMPA receptors in righting and motility. Very low concentrations of decanoic acid significantly slowed the urchin righting response and motility data is continuing to be analyzed. These results indicate that glutamate oversaturation is not effective for blocking AMPA glutamate receptors in this paradigm and that AMPA glutamate receptors are present in the adult sea urchin neural system and are utilized in urchin behavior.
Description
Citation
Publisher
University of the South