Neuromuscular physiology

The difficulties of studying the nervous system are reflected in the fact that very little is known regarding the neuromuscular physiology of cestodes. Apart from an early study by Rietschel (693) on Catenotaenia pusilla, the 

Rietschel (693) found that when the longitudinal nerve cords of C. pusilla were severed there was no effect on the rhythmic contractions of the longitudinal strobilar muscle - a result suggesting that the latter are independent of direct neural control. 

It is evident from the above that the electrophysiology of cestodes - and indeed the neuroendocrine systems of the group in general - is an area which calls particularly for further detailed investigation. 

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Bithionol interferes with the neuromuscular physiology of helminths, impairs egg formation, and may cause defects in the protective cuticle covering the worm. At the biochemical level, the oxidative phosphorylation of the worm is inhibited. 

Garoutte, B., Neuromuscular Physiology, Mill Valley Medical Publishers, Mill-brae, CA, 1996. 

Maule, A.G., Bowman, J.W., Thompson, D.P., Marks, N.J., Friedman, A.R. and Geary T.G. (1996a) FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs) in nematodes occurrence and neuromuscular physiology. Parasitology 113, S119-S136. 

During the 16th century, European explorers found that natives of the Amazon Basin of South America were using an arrow poison (curare) that produced death by skeletal muscle paralysis. The active compound from curare, r/-tubocurarine, and its synthetic derivatives have had an enormous influence on the practice of anesthesia and surgery and have been very useful in defining normal neuromuscular physiologic mechanisms. 

Koopowitz, H. (1973). Organization of primitive nervous system. Neuromuscular physiology of Gyrocotyle urna, a parasitic flatworm. Biological Bulletin, 144 489-502. 

Ward, S. M., Allen, J. M. McKerr, G. (1986). Neuromuscular physiology of Grillotia erinaceus metacestodes (Cestoda Trypanorhyncha) in vitro. Parasitology, 93 121-32. 

Farchi, N., Soreq, H., Hochner, B. (2003). Chronic acetylcholinesterase overexpression induces multilevelled aberrations in mouse neuromuscular physiology. J. Physiol. 546 165-73. 

Martyn JAJ (2005) Neuromuscular physiology and pharmacology. In Miller RD (ed) Anesthesia, 6th edn. Elsevier, Philadelphia, pp 859-879 (Chap. 22)... 

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