title: Pharmacological characteristics of four giant neurons identified in the cerebral ganglia of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac).
abstract: Two giant neurons, d-RCDN (dorsal-right cerebral distinct neuron) and d-LCDN (dorsal left cerebral distinct neuron), with a diameter of about 100 microns, were found symmetrically on the dorsal surface of the cerebral ganglia of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac). They showed spontaneous spike discharges at a stable frequency. Two giant neurons, v-RCDN (ventral-right cerebral distinct neuron) and v-LCDN (ventral-left cerebral distinct neuron), (diameter, approx. 150 microns) were identified on the ventral surface of the same ganglia. No spontaneous spike discharges were evident. Both d-RCDN and d-LCDN were equally inhibited by dopamine, octopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine. Acetylcholine sometimes showed inhibitory effects, but they were not so stable. No substance having excitatory effects on the neurons was found. Both v-RCDN and v-LCDN were equally excited by octopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, GABA and acetylcholine and inhibited by dopamine and beta-hydroxy-L-glutamic acid.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isobe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005724:Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009655:Octopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012908:Snails / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D009655:Octopamine; D012701:Serotonin; C017100:butyrylcholine; C009062:propionylcholine; D006632:Histamine; C028435:2-octopamine; D002794:Choline; D000109:Acetylcholine; D004298:Dopamine