esophageal ganglion (sensu Cancer borealis)

The esophageal ganglion in Cancer borealis is a small ganglion in the stomatogastric nervous system whose neurons can activate the gastric mill rhythm and strongly influence the pyloric rhythm. Neurons with cell bodies in this ganglion project to the stomatogastric ganglion and other components of the stomatogastric nervous system.

In Cancer borealis, the esophageal ganglion is located near the esophagus, positioned along the stomatogastric nervous system between the commissural ganglia and the stomatogastric ganglion. It is a distinct structure with its own neuronal cell bodies that project to stomatogastric circuit components.

Neurons in the esophageal ganglion are involved in activating the gastric mill rhythm in the stomatogastric ganglion and in strongly modulating the pyloric rhythm. This ganglion acts as an additional modulatory center within the stomatogastric nervous system, allowing for coordination of esophageal, gastric, and pyloric motor patterns.

In experimental contexts, manipulations such as severing connections to the stomatogastric ganglion, application of pharmacological agents, or cooling may be associated with changes in esophageal ganglion neuron activity and, consequently, in gastric mill and pyloric motor pattern generation. Physical injury to the ganglion would be expected to disrupt its modulatory functions.

The esophageal ganglion is studied using electrophysiological recordings, including intracellular recordings from identified neurons and extracellular recordings from nerves. Photoinactivation experiments using fluorescent dye fills can be used to selectively eliminate identified neurons. Immunohistochemical staining combined with confocal microscopy characterizes the neurotransmitters and neuropeptides expressed by its neurons.