The bioelectric field of the catfish Ictalurus nebulosus

The variability of the bioelectric field of the electrosensitive catfish, Ictalurus nebulosus, was investigated by recording the potential variation occurring when the fish passed a stationary electrode, and by recording the field of a stationary fish by a 15-electrode array. A good first order approximation of the recorded field of a 20 cm long fish is a dipole dc source with the source and sink about 7 cm apart, carrying a current of about 1 muA in water with a specific resistivity of 3.3 kohm cm. At 5 cm distance from the dipole axis such a source generates an electric potential swing in the order of 50 muV in free space, head negative, tail positive. Superimposed on the basic component are respiration related fluctuations, and fluctuations related to the activity of the alimentary canal, gills, and skin. Novel stimuli, or stressors like investigators approaching the aquarium, evoke sudden increases in field strength, which last about 15 min. Demineralization of the aquarium water causes changes in field strength and reversal of field polarity. The administration of food causes field variations in the vicinity of the anal opening. The bioelectric field shows diurnal fluctuations of 100 muV. The peak is at about 04:00, the dip at 14:00. The fluctuations of the bioelectric field are sufficiently strong and specific to serve as electrical stimuli to other electrosensitive catfish. It is suggested that the field changes allow a simple form of electrocommunication, i.e. inform conspecifics about some physiological properties of the field source. The cellular mechanisms underlying the fluctuations of the bioelectric field are homeostatic processes mediated by ion pumps and ion channels. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.