Evolution of the First Nervous Systems

427 Pages·1989·20.94 MB·English

by  C. R. Green (auth.)

Evolution of the
First Nervous
Systems
NATO ASI Series
Advanced Science Institutes Series
A series presenting the results of activities sponsored by the NATO Science Committee,
which alms at the dissemination of advanced sc/entfflc and technological knowledge,
with a view to strengthening links between scientific communities.
The series is published by an international board of publishers in conjunction with the
NATO Scientific Affairs Division
A Life Sciences Plenum Publishing Corporation
B Physics New York and London
C Mathematical Kluwer Academic Publishers
and Physical Sciences Dordrecht, Boston, and London
D Behavioral and Social Sciences
E Applied Sciences
F Computer and Systems Sciences Springer-Verlag
G Ecological Sciences Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, London,
H Cell Biology Paris, and Tokyo
Recent Volumes In this Se,'e.
Volume 182-DNA Repair Mechanisms and their Biological Implications
in Mammalian Cells
edited by Muriel W. Lambert and Jacques Laval
Volume 183-Protein Structure and Engineering
edited by Oleg Jardetzky
Volume 184-Bone Regulatory Factors: Morphology, Biochemistry,
Physiology, and Pharmacology
edited by Antonio Peclle and Benedetto de Bernard
Volume 185-Modern Concepts in Penicillium and Aspergillus Classification
edited by Robert A. Samson and John I. Pitt
Volume 18B-Plant Aging: Basic and Applied Approaches
edited by Roberto Rodriguez, R. SAnchez Tamils, and D. J. Durzan
Volume 187-Recent Advances in the Development and Germination of Seeds
edited by Raymond B. Taylorson
Volume 188-Evolutlon of the First Nervous Systems
edited by Peter A. V. Anderson
Series A: Life Sciences
Evolution of the
First Nervous
Systems
Edited by
Peter A. V. Anderson
University of Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop
on Evolution of the First Nervous Systems,
held July 2-5, 1989,
at St. Andrew's University,
Scotland, United Kingdom
Library of Congress Cata1aging-in-Publication Data
NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Evolution of the First Nervous
Systems (1989 : St. Andrew's University)
Evolution of the first nervous systems / edited by Peter
A.V. Anderson.
p. cm. ~ (NATO ASI series. Series A, Life sciences ; vol.
188)
"Proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Evolution of
the First Nervous Systems, held July 2-5, 1989, at St. Andrew's
University, Scotland, United Kingdom"—T.p. verso.
"Published in cooperation with NATO Scientific Affairs Division."
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Comparative neurobiology—Congresses. 2. Nervous system-
-Evolution—Congresses. I. Anderson, Peter A. V. II. Title.
III. Series: NATO ASI series. Series A, Life sciences ; v. 188.
QP356.15.N38 1989
591.1'88--dc20 90-34441
CIP
ISBN 978-1-4899-0923-7 ISBN 978-1-4899-0921-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4899-0921-3
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1989
Originally published by Plenum Press, New York in 1989
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1989
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming,
recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
Contributors
Michel Anctil - Departement de Sciences Biologiques et Centre de Recherche en
Sciences Neurologiques, Universite de Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
Peter A. V. Anderson - Whitney Laboratory and Departments of Physiology and
Neurosciences, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine,
Florida 32086, U.S.A.
stuart A. Arleett - Department of Physiology, The Medical School, University of
Bristol, Bristol BSS lTD, U.K.
Andre Bilbaut -Laboratoire de Cytologie Experimentale, Universite de Nice, U.R.A.
651, Pare Valrose, 06034 Nice Cedex, France
Quentin Bone -The Marine Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PLl2PB, U.K.
William E. S. Carr -Whitney Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of
Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine, Florida 32086, U.S.A
James L S. Cobb -Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of st. Andrews, St. Andrews,
Fne KY16 8LB, U.K.
Charles N. David -Zoologisches Institut der Universitat Miinchen, Luisenstrasse 14,
8000 Miinchen 2, F.R.G.
Joachim W. Deitmer -Abteilung fUr Allgemeine Zoologie, FB Biologie, Universitat
Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049,0-6750, Kaiserslautern, F.R.G.
Stefan DCibel - German Cancer Research Center, 1m Neuenheimger Feld 280, 6900
Heidelberg, F.R.G.
Jean Febvre - Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Marine, U.RA. 671, 06230,
Villefranehe-sur-Mer, France
v
vi
Contributors
Collette Febvre-Chevalier - Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Marine, U.RA. 671,
06230, Ville&anche-sur-Mer, France
ChrIstian Franke - Physiologisches Institut der Technischen UniversiW MOOchen,
Beidersteiner, Strasse 29, 8000 MOOchen 40, F.R.G.
Doris Grall' - Centre for Molecular Neurobiology, University of Hamburg,
Martinistrasse 52, 2000 Hamburg 20, F.R.G.
Colin R. Green - Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University
College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
Michael J. Greenberg -Whitney Laboratory, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore
Blvd., St. Augustine, Florida 32086, U.SA.
Cornelius J. P. Grimmellkhuijzen - Centre for Molecular Neurobiology, University
of Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, 2000 Hamburg 20, F.R.G.
Hanns Hatt - Physiologisches Institut der Technischen Universitat MOOchen,
Beidersteiner Strasse 29, 8000 MOOchen 40, F.R.G.
Todd Hennessey - Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York
at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, U.SA.
Mari-Luz Hernandez-Nicaise - Cytologie Experimentale, Universit~ de Nice, U.RA.
651, Park Valrose, 06034 Nice Cedex, France
Bertil Hille - Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington 98195, USA
Engelbert Hobmayer - Zoologisches Institut der Universitat MOOchen, Luisenstrasse
14, 8000 MOOchen 2, F.R.G.
Sabine A. H. HolJinelster - Zentrum fUr Molekulare Biologie, 1m Neuenheimer Feld
282, 6900 Heidelberg, F.R.G.
o.
Koizumi - Physiological Laboratory, Fukuoka Women's University, 1-1-1
Kasumigaoka, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 813, Japan
Harold Koopowitz -Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine,
California 92717, U.SA.
Contributors vii
Ching Kung - Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Department of Genetics,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Michael S. Laveraek - Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of st. Andrews, St.
Andrews, F'lfe KY16 8LB, U.K.
George O. Mackie - Biology Department, University of Victoria, Victoria, British
Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
Ian D. McFarlane - Department of Applied Biology, University of Hull, Hull HU6
7RX, U.K.
Robert W. Meeda - Department of Physiology, The Medical Schoo~ University of
Bristo~ University Walk, Bristol BSS lTD, U.K.
Ghislain Nicaise - Cytologie Ex¢rimentale, Universite de Nice, U.RA. 651, Park
Valrose, 06034 Nice Cedex, France
C. Ladd Prosser - Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois,
Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Thomas S. Reese - Laboratory of Neurobiology, N.I.N.D.S., National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Eliana Sc:emes - Departamento de F'tsiologia Ger~ Instituto de Biociencias,
Universidade de Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil
Andrew N. Spencer - Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta, TG6 2E9, Canada
Judith Van Houten - Department of Zoology, University of Vermont, Burlington,
Vermont 05405, U.SA.
Jan van Marie -Department of Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Medicine, University
of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
J. A. Westfall - Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA.
David C. Wood - Department of Behavioral Neurosciences, University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, U.SA.
Preface
This book represents the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Workshop
of the same name, held at St. Andrews University, Scotland in July of 1989. It was the
first meeting of its kind and was convened as a forum to review and discuss the
phylogeny of some of the cell biological functions that underlie nervous system
function, such matters as intercellular communication in diverse, lower organisms, and
the electrical excitability of protozoans and cnidarians, to mention but two. The
rationale behind such work has not necessarily been to understand how the first
nervous systems evolved; many of the animals in question provide excellent
opportunities for examining general questions that are unapproachable in the more
complex nervous systems of higher animals. Nevertheless, a curiosity about nervous
system evolution has invariably pervaded much of the work.
The return on this effort has been mixed, depending to a large extent on the
usefulness of the preparation under examination. For example, work on cnidarians, to
many the keystone phylum in nervous system evolution simply because they possess the
"first" nervous systems, lagged behind that carried out on protozoans, because the latter
are large, single cells and, thus, far more amenable to microelectrode-based recording
techniques. Furthermore, protozoans can be cultured easily and are more amenable
to genetic and molecular analyses. Thus, our understanding of the properties and
distn'bution, in lower animals, of the various factors that underlie nervous system
function was very fragmented, so much so that realistic discussions of the evolution of
the first nervous systems were not feasible simply because the comparative data base
was not available.
The situation has changed dramatically in the past few years, with the introduction
of new and powerful techniques, such as patch clamping, immunocytochemistry and
peptide sequencing. As a result, we can now talk about such things as receptor
potentials and ion channels in both the Protozoa and the Cnidaria, whereas until only
a few years ago, those of us studying cnidarians were forced to rely on extracellular
recordings. Thus, we have a far broader picture of the variety and distribution of many
of the different "neural" mechanisms in several relevant organisms, and can now
realistically compare the cellular properties in question across a range of appropriate
organisms.
The NATO Advanced Research Workshop from which this book derives, was
designed as the first real forum in which these various questions could be discussed.
ix
x
Preface
Its aims were several. First, to bring together a group of experts working on relevant
questions in diverse but appropriate, organisms ranging from unicellular protists
through lower invertebrates, and by way of their presentations, to receive current
reviews of the various fields. The diversity of speakers was such that many had not
previously met, yet their interaction proved useful and important, and may be more so
in the future through important new collaborations. A second aim was to highlight
areas requiring particular attention and, finally, to provide a forum in which to take
advantage of the experience of the participants in discussions of the whole question of
nervous system evolution.
The bulk of this book represents the presentations by the main speakers. They
have been broadly grouped into three general areas: intercellular communication,
electrical excitability and sensory transduction. The latter section is rather· sparse, but
this is primarily a reflection of the fact that this area has received far less attention
than it deserves, and was included in the Workshop to illustrate this point. In addition
to the review presentations, we were treated to a Plenary lecture by George O. Mackie,
who was invited to do this as an acknowledgment of his enormous contribution to the
field over the years.
The discussions that followed each session of the Workshop were moderated by
individuals who were chosen on the basis of their broad expertise in their general
field, their interest in comparative questions, particularly as it pertains to the evolution
of the nervous system and, finally, their ability to stimulate discussion. All were very
effective in this role and the discussions were highly stimulating and enjoyable
experiences. Each moderator has prepared a brief chapter in which he has attempted
to summarize the content of the sessions he moderated, and any conclusions achieved
during the respective sessions. This was an onerous task given the breadth of material
covered and the sometimes boisterous discussions that ensued, but their summaries
provide a good review of the proceedings and much food for thought.
The Workshop was, by all measures, very successful and enjoyable, and I would
like to express my sincere thanks to all who made it such. Pride of place goes to Dr.
Craig Sinclair and his staff at the Division of Scientific Affairs of NATO who provided
generous financial support and considerable encouragement throughout the planning
stages of the Workshop. Supplemental funds were supplied by the National Science
Foundation (grant BNS 88-19742) and their assistance is gratefully acknowledged. I
would also like to thank Mike Greenberg for the secretarial and other assistance
provided by the Whitney Laboratory of the University of Florida. The Workshop was
held at St. Andrews University, st. Andrews, Scotland, and I am very grateful for the
facilities and assistance they provided through the services of Roger Smith and his
staff. The local organizers, Jim Cobb and Glen Cottrell, provided invaluable advice
and help. F'mally, the success of any meeting is largely a reflection of the attitude and
input of the participants, and I would like to thank everyone who participated for
helping to make this such an enjoyable and stimulating Workshop.