Structural and chemical changes in the cytoskeleton of the goldfish Mauthner cells after vestibular stimulation.

The ultrastructure and protein content of goldfish Mauthner cells (M-cells) at different functional states induced by natural vestibular stimulations were studied. 2-h stimulation, usually causing a fatiguing of the fishes, was found to be accompanied by ultrastructural changes within M-cells and a decreased content of cytoskeletal proteins. After training by short stimulations resulting in a long-term adaptation of the fishes, the ultrastructure and protein content of M-cells could not be distinguished qualitatively and quantitatively from those of non-adapted fishes.