Type: Polymodal (interneuron, motor neuron)
In MoW: AVL
Male Wiring Project: AVL
In Wormbase: AVL
Lineage: AB prpappaap
Location: Ventral ganglion in head
Description: An excitatory motor neuron for enteric muscles as well as a ring and ventral cord interneuron, few synapses. In males, makes gap junctions with PDB, has a few synapses onto gonad and ventral body wall muscles (Jarrell et al., 2012)
Neurotransmitter/ Neuropeptide:
- GABA
(Eastman et al., 1999)
Innexin expression:
None yet reported, although described to have gap junctions in adult animals (MoW)
Receptor expression:
Function:
- Defecation. AVL and DVB are excitatory GABAergic motor neurons for the enteric muscles (Avery and Thomas, 1997; McIntire et al., 1993). Together with DVB, activates expulsion muscle contraction (E.p or EMC), also required for anterior body contraction (aBoc) step in defecation motor program (DMP).