Type: Sensory neuron, motor neuron
Connectivity:
- In WormWiring: PCCL, PCCR
In Wormbase: PCC, PCCL, PCCR
Lineage: B.arpaaa, B.alpaaa
Location: L/R Cloacal ganglia
Description: One of 3 bilateral pairs of male specific sensory neurons (PCAL/R, PCBL/R, PCCL/R) that innervate the left and right post-cloacal sensilla (P.C.S.) in the male tail (Sulston et al., 1980). Along with SPC neuron, they also innervate the male gonad (Jarrell et al., 2012; WormWiring). Additonally, these neurons have outputs onto the gubernacular erector (gec) and the oblique (aob, pob) muscle arms (see WormWiring) and so may have motor as well as sensory function. PCCL/R have a long striated rootlet but lack a basal body (Sulston et al., 1980).
Neurotransmitter/Neuropeptide:
- Acetylcholine
(Garcia et al., 2001)
Innexin expression:
- Make gap junctions mainly to each other and CA05. Less frequent gap junctions to HOB, CA06, CP04, CP05, CP06, PCB, PVZ, R2B, R8B, SPC, SPD and SPV (see WormWiring).
Function:
- The P.C.S. functions redundantly with the hook in several steps of male mating behavior: locating the vulva, promoting backing over the vulval region and inducing spicule prodding behavior which is used to precisely locate the vulval opening. P.C.S. neurons are responsible for coordinating the sensing of vulva position with spicule prodding; they sense vulva position using sensory processes that project posteriorly from the