Squid Have Nociceptors That Display Widespread Long-Term Sensitization and Spontaneous Activity after Bodily Injury

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0646-13.2013
• Publication Date: 2013-06-12T16:39:11Z
• Authors: R. J. Crook; R. T. Hanlon; E. T. Walters
• Keywords: Nociceptor; Cephalopod

Bodily injury in mammals often produces persistent pain that is driven at least part by long-lasting sensitization and spontaneous activity (SA) peripheral branches of primary nociceptors near sites injury. While have been described lower vertebrates invertebrates, outside there limited evidence for afferent neurons, are no reports SA being induced afferents noxious stimulation. Cephalopod molluscs the most neurally behaviorally complex with brains rivaling those some size complexity. This has fostered opinion cephalopods may experience pain, leading governments to include under animal welfare laws. It not known, however, if possess nociceptors, or whether their somatic sensory neurons exhibit nociceptive sensitization. We demonstrate squid selectively encode mechanical but heat stimuli, show stimuli after minor body. As mammals, can cause afferents. Unlike almost as prominent on contralateral side body they an Thus, while alterations similar drive robust changes far from suggest persistently enhanced provides much less information about location than it does mammals.