The second aim of the project involves the electrophysiological characterization of circuits involved in the establishment of social dominance status of the animals and the related behaviors. The third aim of the project involves studying the postlarval development of these circuits as well as the changes that occur when the animal changes into a higher-order morphological type. The fourth aim of the project is to determine the nature of the environmental cues involved in determining the ratio of morphological types within a population as well as understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying an individual animal's response to those cues and the transformation to a higher-order morphotype. Techniques currently used in our laboratory include immunohistochemistry, extracellular and intracellular recording, light and fluorescence microscopy and observation of animal behavior aided by video analysis. Mapping of 5HT-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of a tropical freshwater prawn.
Growth cones turn up concentration gradients of diffusible peripheral target-derived factors.
Competitive interactions between supernumerary and normal sensory neurons in the cockroach are mediated through a change in quantal content and not quantal size. Changes in MEPP frequency during depression of evoked release at the frog neuromuscular junction.