The antagonistic effects of 5‐hydroxytryptamine and methylxanthine on the gill cilia of mytilus edulis

The laterofrontal (LF) cirri on isolated gill filaments of Mytilus edulis, prepared in natural seawater, are active and initially beat with an average frequency of about 8 Hz (with a range of 6–14 Hz). However, the lateral (L) cilia on these filaments are arrested in a position at the end of their recovery stroke. Perfusion of the filament with artificial seawater (ASW), with or without 1% ethanol, has little or no biological effect on the activity of the LF cirri, although a transitory decrease in frequency often accompanies the perfusion process. The L cilia remain arrested during perfusion with ASW. The exposure of the gill to low levels of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5HT) (10⁻⁸ < 5HT < 10⁻⁷ M) has no effect on the activity of the LF cirri but stimulates the L cilia to beat. Exposure to higher concentrations of 5HT (> 10⁻⁷ M) elevates the beat frequency of the L cilia and simultaneously inhibits the activity of the LF cirri, leading to their arrest in a position at the end of the effective stroke. This arrest of the LF cirri occurs as the L cilia attain a 5HT‐induced beat frequency between 12 to 14 Hz. The influence of 5HT on the L cilia and the LF cirri can be reversibly mimicked or enhanced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine (IBMX). A concentration of 0.5 mM IBMX mimics low 5HT concentrations (about 10⁻⁷ M) by stimulating the L cilia to beat without affecting the beat frequency of the LF cirri. A combimation of 10⁻⁷ M 5HT and 0.5 mM IBMX in ASW mimics high (> 10⁻⁶ M) 5HT concentrations by arresting the LF cirri and increasing the beat frequency of the L cilia. Under these conditions, the threshold of the LF cirri arrest response is again found to occur as the L cilia attain a beat frequency of 12 – 14Hz. These results suggest that the mechanisms of LF cirri arrest and L cilia activation are mediated by 5HT ‐induced changes in intracellular cyclic AMP levels.