Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-11-14
pubmed:abstractText
The pit organs of crotaline snakes can sense infrared (IR). The pit membrane has a finer, flatter, more convoluted vasculature than other sensory organs. Using extracellular recording from IR-sensitive trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons (primary neurons) and tectal (OT) neurons of the crotaline snake Trimeresurus flavoviridis, we examined the IR response to ethanol (EtOH) in vivo. The response to EtOH was recorded in the TG and OT 20-80 s after 10% EtOH in Ringer's solution (100 microl/ 500 g body weight) was injected via the heart. The responses to EtOH and those to lower or higher temperature stimulation were additive. At a constant temperature (25 degrees C), EtOH significantly potentiated the IR-triggered discharges of IR-sensory pathways in this snake. These results suggest that the IR response to EtOH is due to either its vasodilatory effect on the abundant vasculature of the pit membrane or its chemical effect on temperature-sensitive receptors.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
29-32
pubmed:dateRevised
2003-11-14
pubmed:articleTitle
Response of the infrared receptors of a crotaline snake to ethanol.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Physiology, University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.