title: Effects of met-enkephalin on electrical coupling between identified neurons in the pulmonate snails, Helix and Lymnaea.
abstract: 1. The effects of met-enkephalin on electrical coupling between molluscan neurons have been investigated using the isolated brains of Helix pomatia and Lymnaea stagnalis. 2. In the presence of both serotonin and met-enkephalin, non-rectifying electrical coupling is strongly facilitated between identified respiratory neurons in Helix, whilst coupling between putative, serotonin-containing, ciliomotoneurons in Lymnaea is facilitated by met-enkephalin alone. 3. Facilitation of coupling by met-enkephalin is weaker in the strongly coupled neurons, VD1/RPaD2 of Lymnaea. 4. These data suggest that met-enkephalin can modulate different groups of electrically coupled cells and may be involved in coordination of motor patterns.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental Biology of the Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Dyakonova
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Moroz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Winlow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006372:Helix, Snails; D008195:Lymnaea; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine