Insect neuromuscular mechanisms

Abstract

A review of the literature on the structural, physiological, and pharmacological properties of insect neuromuscular systems (excluding those concerned with flight) is presented. The membrane properties of insect muscle fibers are discussed in relation to the varied ionic environment of insect muscle. Attention is given to recent developments in insect neuromuscular pharmacology and speculative comments on the identities and properties of the chemical mediators at excitatory and inhibitory nerve-muscle synapses are made. Finally, the functional significances of inhibitory and excitatory axons innervating insect skeletal muscles are discussed in the light of new information obtained from studies of free-walking locust preparations. © 1967 by the American Society of Zoologists.