Biomedical subjects

T Valentincic

Publications and source records attributed to T Valentincic.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Olfactory discrimination of amino acids in brown bullhead catfish.

Olfactory discrimination of amino acids was investigated in brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus). Based on the magnitude of the observed food search activity of catfish conditioned to single amino acids, the tested compounds were classified as being detected by the catfish as equal to, similar to, or different from the conditioned stimulus. L-Proline (L-Pro)-conditioned brown bullhead catfish discriminated all amino acids from L-Pro, but catfish conditioned to L-valine (L-Val) and L-isoleucine (L-Ile) did not discriminate L-Val from L-Ile nor L-Ile from L-Val; however, all other amino acids tested were always discriminated from these two compounds. Catfish conditioned to L-alanine (L-Ala) discriminated basic, acidic and several neutral amino acids with long side-chains (LCNs) from L-Ala; however, they did not always discriminate L-Ala from all neutral amino acids with short side-chains (SCNs). The L-norleucine (L-nLeu)-conditioned fish responded to L-norvaline (L-nVal), L-methionine (L-Met) and L-Ala similarly to L-nLeu, indicating that these amino acids are detected as similar or identical to L-nLeu. L-nLeu was, however, discriminated from L-Ala in L-Ala-conditioned catfish. Interestingly, L-leucine (L-Leu) was discriminated from the conditioned stimuli, L-Ala, L-Ile and L-Val, indicating independent receptors for L-Leu. Although conditioned catfish discriminated other amino acids from L-arginine hydrochloride (L-Arg), in some tests they were unable to discriminate L-Arg from L-lysine hydrochloride (L-Lys). These results imply the existence of independent olfactory receptive pathways for: (i) L-Pro; (ii) basic amino acids (L-Arg and L-Lys); (iii) L-Leu; (iv) other neutral amino acids with branched side-chains (L-Ile and L-Val); (v) neutral amino acids with long linear side-chains (L-nLeu, L-nVal and L-Met); (vi) neutral amino acids with short side-chains; and (vii) amino acids with sulfhydryl groups (L-Cys and L-homoCys).

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2000

The behavioral detection of binary mixtures of amino acids and their individual components by catfish.

The question of whether a binary mixture of amino acids is detected by fish as a unique odor or whether the qualities of the individual components are retained within the mixture was investigated in channel (Ictalurus punctatus) and brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) catfish, species that are highly similar in their olfactory receptor and behavioral responses to amino acid odorants. Catfish respond with greater appetitive food-searching (swimming) behavior to amino-acid-conditioned olfactory stimuli than to non-conditioned amino acids. In the present study, appetitive food-searching behavior was measured by counting the number of turns of the fish greater than 90 degrees within 90 s of stimulus onset and, in some tests, by video tracking. The two methods yielded highly correlated results. Channel catfish conditioned to a binary mixture composed of equimolar amino acids responded with searching behavior to the amino acid that produced the larger-amplitude electro-olfactogram (EOG) response as they did to the conditioned stimulus. In further studies, bullhead catfish were conditioned either to a binary mixture or to a single amino acid and tested to determine whether a binary mixture was detected as the component evoking the larger EOG response. In all initial tests (trials 1-3), the more stimulatory component of a binary mixture was not discriminated from the binary mixture; however, the less stimulatory component and all other amino acids tested were discriminated from the mixture. By increasing the concentration of the originally less potent component in a binary mixture, making it the more stimulatory compound, it was now detected as not significantly different from the binary mixture; however, the original more potent component (i.e. now the less potent stimulus) was detected as significantly different from the mixture. However, with 5-10 additional discrimination training trials, the less stimulatory component in a binary mixture influenced the perception of the binary mixture because the binary mixture was no longer detected only as its more stimulatory component. The data suggest that a two-step learning process occurs within the olfactory bulb and possibly higher-order telencephalic nuclei.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2000

The amplitude of the electroolfactogram in catfish correlates with the proportion of responding ORNs.

We recorded simultaneously the electrophysiological responses of the olfactory organ [the electroolfactogram (EOG)] and action potential activity of single olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) to amino acid stimuli in the brown bullhead catfish, Ameiurus nebulosus. To determine whether the amplitude of the EOG depends upon the number of responding ORNs, we tested two highly stimulatory (based on EOG recordings) amino acids [L-norvaline (L-nVal) and L-cysteine (L-Cys)], two amino acids of intermediate potency [L-arginine (L-Arg) and L-isoleucine (L-Ile)], and a poorly stimulatory amino acid [L-proline (L-Pro)]. Forty-nine percent of the spontaneously active, single ORNs tested (n=142) were either suppressed or excited by amino acid stimuli. Of the ORNs tested with specific amino acids, 61% responded to 1 mM L-nVal (n=49), 57% responded to 1 mM L-Cys (n=30), 45% responded to L-Arg (n=31) and 36% responded to L-Ile (n=22) with either suppression or excitation. Only one ORN responded with suppression to 10(-2) M L-Pro (n=10). These data suggest that the amplitude of the EOG in the brown bullhead catfish is correlated with the number of responsive ORNs (Spearman corr. coef. = 0.9; P<0.05).

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2000

Coding principles in fish olfaction as revealed by single unit, EOG and behavioral studies.

At present, the principles of coding and codes for individual odorants are not known; however, several coding properties and their limitations emerged. The olfactory code for different odorants must be different to enable olfactory discrimination. We studied elements of the olfactory code that are accessible to combined microelectrode and behavioral techniques. A random sample of spontaneously active olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) responded to a 15 component mixture of amino acids with suppression, excitation and no change in their activity in the ratio of 6:1:8; ORNs responded to L-arginine (L-Arg) in the ratio of 5:5:60 and to L-cysteine (L-Cys) in the ratio of 10:1:27. ORNs provide information that enables nearly an unlimited behavioral discrimination of single odorants. Underwater electro-olfactogram (EOG) recordings from the olfactory organ measure the odorant-induced summed dc potential change from all the olfactory receptor neurons. In behavioral studies, the more (most) stimulatory component of the binary (ternary) mixture determined in EOG recordings was its better-perceived component; however, discrimination conditioning--repeated presentation of the conditioned mixture and its more stimulatory component alone--enabled the discrimination of the conditioned binary and ternary mixtures from their more (most) stimulatory components. In large multimixtures (13 components), where one amino acid is the more potent EOG stimulus than the other less stimulatory but equipotent components, catfish discriminated all single components from the conditioned multimixture. These results indicate that the multi-mixture is not detected as its most stimulatory component. Catfish also do not learn to discriminate a 13 component multimixture from a 12 component multimixture comprising 12 of the same components. Taken together, these findings indicate that the capacity for parallel transfer of mixture component information is limited in the catfish olfactory system. The finding of a limited capacity of multimixture component detection in catfish also supports the hypothesis of across nerve pattern coding of odorants and eliminates the sole existence of entirely specialized olfactory receptor neurons and labeled lines.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1999

Expression of a reflex biting/snapping response to amino acids prior to first exogenous feeding in salmonid alevins.

Five days prior to first exogenous feeding, amino acid stimuli released reflexive biting/snapping behavior in alevins of both rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). The biting/snapping responses of salmonid larvae, which obtain nutrients solely from their yolk sacs, were videotaped during presentations of amino acids that are potent olfactory and taste stimuli to adult rainbow trout. The tested salmonid alevins possessed developed eyes and olfactory and taste organs several days prior to the start of spontaneous swimming and exogenous feeding. Five days prior to the first occurrence of complex feeding behavior, L-proline and L-alanine, which released swimming, turning, and biting/snapping (exaggerated biting) behaviors in adult rainbow trout, triggered reflexive biting/snapping behavior in the alevins of rainbow and brook trout, but did not induce swimming. In contrast, L-proline released vigorous swimming, but not biting/snapping activity in alevins of the European freshwater huchen (Hucho huncho), another salmonid species. Unlike in adult rainbow trout where visual and olfactory stimuli control all the successive behavior patterns of feeding behavior, taste stimuli released in alevins of rainbow and brook trout the early biting/snapping reflex independently from the complex feeding behavior. The independent biting/snapping reflex of rainbow and brook trout alevins ceased at the onset of spontaneous swimming activity several hours prior to the first exogenous feeding.

Alanine↗

PubMed1997

Visual and chemical release of feeding behavior in adult rainbow trout.

Feeding behavior of adult rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is released by visual and/or chemical stimuli. Detection of either a conditioned visual or a conditioned chemical stimulus creates an excitatory feeding state within the central nervous system which turns on feeding behavior composed of swimming, turning and biting/snapping actions. Particular amino acids that are highly effective physiological taste stimuli that are also detected through olfaction (e.g. L-proline, L-alanine, L-leucine) release the initial sequence of food searching and biting/snapping behaviors; however, an effective olfactory, but poor gustatory, stimulus (e.g. L-arginine) is rarely effective behaviorally. After bilateral removal of the paired olfactory organs, visual stimuli alone release the entire set of feeding behavior patterns. Since amino acids that are highly potent physiological taste stimuli do not release either feeding behavior or reflex biting/snapping actions in adult anosmic rainbow trout, it is postulated that the olfactory system detects potent taste stimuli and provides the afferent input for arousal and the release of all feeding activity patterns.

Alanine↗

PubMed1996

Learned olfactory discrimination of amino acids and their binary mixtures in bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus).

The question of whether bullhead catfish can discriminate binary mixtures of amino acids from the individual components of the mixture was investigated. Two groups of catfish were conditioned to different binary mixtures of L-norvaline (NVAL) and L-leucine (LEU). The concentrations of the amino acids in the conditioned mixtures were adjusted so that in different mixtures either NVAL or LEU was the more stimulatory component. Bullhead catfish were unable to discriminate the more stimulatory components, but were able to discriminate the less stimulatory components and other amino acids from the conditioned mixtures. The third group of bullhead catfish was conditioned to L-proline (PRO) and the responses to different mixtures of PRO and NVAL were subsequently evaluated. Behavioral and electrophysiological (EOG) experiments indicated that the difference in relative stimulatory effectiveness levels between NVAL and PRO is > 30,000 times. For subsequent tests, the concentrations of PRO and NVAL were adjusted to form binary mixtures in which PRO and NVAL, respectively, were the more stimulatory components. Bullhead catfish conditioned to PRO discriminated the mixture if NVAL was the more stimulatory component, but did not discriminate PRO from the mixture if PRO was the more stimulatory component. These results suggest that binary mixtures of amino acids are initially perceived as the more stimulatory components of the mixture.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1994

Consummatory feeding behavior to amino acids in intact and anosmic channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus.

The entire sequence of feeding behavior patterns exhibited by intact and anosmic channel catfish to food extracts was also released by single amino acids. L-arginine (> 10(-6) M), L-alanine (> 10(-6) M), and L-proline (> 10(-4) M) were each highly effective at releasing consummatory behavior patterns, such as turning, increasing pumping of water across the gill arches, and biting-snapping. Swallowing required solid objects, whereas rhythmic movement of the hyoid was released by > 10(-2) M L-arginine alone. For the biting-snapping behavior, the number of bites depended upon both the number of eddies containing the amino acid above the behavioral threshold concentration and the amino acid applied. Multiple eddies of > 10(-3) M L-proline and L-alanine provoked up to 25 bites per test; however, the most effective stimulus for releasing biting-snapping behavior at low concentrations was L-arginine (behavioral threshold 3 x 10(-7) M). In comparison to 10(-4) M L-alanine and L-arginine, other amino acids were less effective stimuli.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1994

Learned olfactory discrimination versus innate taste responses to amino acids in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

Intact channel catfish conditioned to the L-amino acids, proline, arginine, alanine, and lysine, discriminated these stimuli from all other amino acids tested. Behavioral structure-activity tests indicated that L-pipecolate was the only effective agonist of the L-proline conditioned response. For channel catfish in which one of the paired olfactory organs was surgically removed, the number of turns to the conditioned stimulus was 40% fewer than those of intact catfish; however, these semiosmic channel catfish discriminated the conditioned from nonconditioned stimuli, as evidenced by their responding to the conditioned amino acid, with a two- to threefold greater number of turns than to the nonconditioned amino acids. Irrespective of the number of conditioning trials attempted, catfish with both olfactory organs removed were unable to discriminate the conditioned from the nonconditioned stimuli.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1993

The taste system of the channel catfish: from biophysics to behavior.

Catfish, described as 'swimming tongues', are unique experimental models for studies of taste reception because of the extensive distribution of taste buds over their external body surface and within their oropharyngeal cavity. Both the extraordinary numbers of taste buds and their high sensitivity to amino acids have made it possible to perform in the same species: biochemical and biophysical studies of stimulus recognition and signal transduction; electrophysiological recordings of taste activity from receptor cells, afferent nerve fibers and CNS relays; and behavioral studies of taste-controlled food search, biting and mastication. The close correspondence of results obtained with these diverse experimental approaches has provided critical information concerning vertebrate gustation.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1985

Behavioral study of chemoreception in the sea star Marthasterias glacialis: structure-activity relationships of lactic acid, amino acids, and acetylcholine.

Behavioral responses of Marthasterias glacialis to low molecular compounds were studied under laboratory conditions. Feeding postures, stomach eversions and locomotion of initially inactive animals can be released with very dilute solutions of lactic acid, neutral 2 and 3 carbon amino acids, L isomers of 4 to 6 carbon neutral amino acids, L-arginine, acetylcholine iodide, and several of their analogues. Hunger was induced by temporary withdrawal of food. Responsiveness to feeding stimuli was controlled with L-cysteine and L-leucine. The lowest behavioral thresholds for the most effective feeding stimuli were 3 X 10(-11) mol/l for both enantiomers of lactic acid, 10(-8) mol/l for L-proline and both enantiomers of cysteine and 10(-7) mol/l for acetylcholine iodide and some of the effective neutral amino acids. The behavioral threshold values for chemical stimuli differed by a factor between 30 and 100 in different sea stars. The test concentration was 3 X 10(-7) mol/l, the level at which L-cysteine elicited a complete feeding response from all the animals. Structure-activity comparison of substances less effective than the control stimulus was thus possible. The behavioral threshold of fully effective substances was determined later. The independence of receptor mechanisms for different substances can be inferred as: L-cysteine controlled responsiveness is not always accompanied by responsiveness to neutral amino acids. Autotomized marthasterias arms crawled after stimulation with lactic acid, cysteine, and acetylcholine iodide but did not respond to the feeding stimuli betaine and L-proline. An animal became inactive if electric shocks were paired with L-proline or L-cysteine emanating from an 'electric' food model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗