ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Tentacle sensory input system
;
Neuroendocrine control of growth
;
Ultrastructure
;
L. stagnalis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Several environmental factors influence the growth of the basommatophoran freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Growth is hormonally controlled by 4 cerebral clusters of ca 50–75 peptidergic, neuroendocrine Light Green Cells (LGC). The present light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopic study shows that the LGC are synaptically contacted by a tentacle sensory system (TSS). The TSS consists of 2 types of primary sensory neurone, viz. ca 150 S1-cells and ca 50–100 S2-cells. A S1-cell has a non-ciliated dendrite and an axon branch that synaptically contacts the soma of a S2-cell. A S2-cell has a branching, ciliated dendrite. Probably, S1- and S2-cells have different sensory modalities and can integrate sensory information by intersensory interaction. The S2-axons run through the tentacular nerves, the cerebral ganglia, and the intercerebral commissure. In each ganglion S2-axons branch and form synaptic contacts on the axons and somata of the LGC and on glial cells that surround the LGC. In an LGC-cluster, 1–3 LGC-somata are particularly strongly innervated. Probably, the TSS is involved in the environmental control of growth in L. stagnalis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00210892
