Type: Sensory neuron (Osmo-, mechano- and odorsensory, nociceptive)
In MoW: ASH
Male Wiring Project: ASHL, ASHR
In Wormbase: ASH, ASHL, ASHR
Lineage: AB plpaappaa, AB prpaappaa
Location: Lateral ganglia of head
Description: Amphid neurons, single ciliated endings, project into ring via commissure from ventral ganglion, make diverse synaptic connections in ring neuropil. Also take up FITC.
Neurotransmitter: Glutamate. (Lee et al., 1999). Express neuropeptide-like proteins, NLP-3 and NLP-15 (Nathoo et al., 2001). Express the FMRFamide-related neuropeptide (FaRP), FLP-21 (Rogers et al., 2003).
Function: Mediate responses to nose touch, hyperosmolarity, and volatile repellent chemicals (1-octanol) (Hart et al., 1999, Bargmann, 2006). Note: A mutation in the glr-1 (glutamate receptor subunit) gene which acts in synaptic targets of the ASH neurons, eliminates the response to nose touch but not to osmotic repellents. Mediate avoidance behavior from Cd2+ and Cu2+ (Sambongi et al., 1999). Mediate social feeding behavior when aversive food signal is present (de Bono M. et al., 2002).
See the circuit for avoidance behavior by ASH.
Receptor Expression: Express TRPV channel proteins OSM-9 (Colbert et al., 1997) and OCR-2 (Tobin et al., 2002; de Bono M. et al., 2002). Express G protein-coupled serpentine receptors, SRA-6, SRB-6 (Troemel et al., 1995). Express neuropeptide Y receptor like protein, NPR-1 which mediates social feeding behavior (Coates and de Bono , 2002). Express UNC-8, a DEG/ENaC family member homologous to subunits of a candidate mechanically gated ion channel (Tavernarakis et al., 1997).

See DiI staining of ASH in dorso-ventral view; DiI staining of ASH in lateral view.