"... We suggest that the HSN neuron is the executive neuron driving egg-laying events. We propose that the VC neurons act as "single egg counters" that inhibit HSN activity for short periods in response to individual egg-laying events. We further propose that the uv1 neuroendocrine cells are "cluster counters", which inhibit HSN activity for longer periods and are responsible for the time constant of the inactive phase. Together they form an integrated circuit that drives the clustered egg-laying pattern. ..."
Model Type: Realistic Network
Region(s) or Organism(s): Egg-laying circuit
Cell Type(s): C elegans Hermaphrodite-Specific neuron (HSN); C elegans VC motor neuron; C elegans uterine-vulval cell (uv1)
Model Concept(s): Temporal Pattern Generation; Simplified Models
Simulation Environment: R (web link to model)
Implementer(s): Breitling, Rainer; Zhang, Mi [mi.zhang at gmail.com]
References:
Zhang M, Schafer WR, Breitling R. (2010). A circuit model of the temporal pattern generator of Caenorhabditis egg-laying behavior. BMC systems biology. 4 [PubMed]