Alpha-conotoxin ImI disrupts central control of swimming in the medicinal leech

Medicinal leeches (Hirudo spp.) swim using a metachronal, front-to-back undulation. The behavior is generated by central pattern generators (CPGs) distributed along the animal's midbody ganglia and is coordinated by both central and peripheral mechanisms. Here we report that a component of the venom of Conus imperialis, α-conotoxin ImI, known to block nicotinic acetyl-choline receptors in other species, disrupts swimming. Leeches injected with the toxin swam in circles with exaggerated dorsoventral bends and reduced forward velocity. Fictive swimming in isolated nerve cords was even more strongly disrupted, indicating that the toxin targets the CPGs and central coordination, while peripheral coordination partially rescues the behavior in intact animals.

Research highlights▶ Alpha-conotoxin ImI disrupts coordinated motor output of swim CPGs. ▶ Injected intact animals can still swim, but move in circles. ▶ Fictive swimming in isolated nerve cords is severely disorganized.