Electric organ

The electroplax, short form Eplax, is an organ found in some fish that can generate electric voltages that are released into the water. There are about 250 species of fish that use the electroplax. These include eels, electric rays and jitter catfish. Electroplax by voltages of up to 1000 V can be generated. The achievable current can be up to 50 A, with this extreme so far could be detected only when spotted electric ray, and only at a voltage of 60 V.

Construction

The electric organs are composed of muscle fibers that can no longer contract: the " electric plates ". These plates are on one side papillose, on the other side but smooth. On this side there are synapses. Several thousand of these plates are arranged in series in columns. Through this series, very high voltage values. The current is determined by the number of parallel columns parent.

An exception is the electric organ of the dither catfish ( Malapterurus electricus ) represents the electrically active cells have evolutionarily developed from glandular cells of the skin, but work on a similar principle.

Function

The release of acetylcholine leads to the excitation of the electroplax cell. Since this happens at the same time in almost all electroplax cells to voltages up to 1,000 V build on that abruptly discharged when touching the prey and thus paralyze the prey.

Importance

The electroplax is used to paralyze prey and fend off enemies. The electric shocks are also used for orientation in the murky water, the area of separation and detection of reproductive partners.