The projections of neurosecretory cells in the brain of the North-American medicinal leech, Macrobdella decora, using intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase.
The projections of four anatomically distinct groups of putative neurosecretory cells found within the supra-oesophageal ganglion of the leech Macrobdella decora were studied by intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase. All four groups have their own characteristic branching pattern while sharing the common feature of possessing primary branches that project into the dorsal commissure. Numerous secondary processes extend from these primary branches to terminate within the neural lamella, as well as within the neuropile. Electron microscopy of the regions into which these secondary processes project reveals numerous neurosecretory terminals. The data suggests that the midregion of the dorsal commissure constitutes a neurohemal complex. These observations strengthen the argument that the four groups of identified cells are indeed neurosecretory.
D000818:Animals; D005724:Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007865:Leeches / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase