The digestive tract ofOctopus vulgaris:the anatomy, physiology and pharmacology of the upper tract

Abstract

This paper reports a preliminary investigation into physiological and pharmacological aspects of the motor activity of the digestive tract ofOctopus vulgaris,with reference tothe relevant anatomy. The results suggest that the octopus gut shows many similarities to somevertebrate guts in terms of functional morphology and motor control. Pharmacological experiments suggest that acetylcholine, noradrenaline and 5HT may act as neurotransmitters and probablyregulate the digestive activity by antagonistic actions, reminiscent of the classical divisions of the vertebrate autonomic nervous system. Histochemical evidence is presented that some ofthese substances are located in the nerves and ganglia of the digestive tract.