Embryogenesis of the histaminergic system in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis L.: an immunocytochemical and biochemical study.
Embryogenesis of the histaminergic system in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, was investigated by means of immunocytochemistry and HPLC assay. From the earliest onset of the of histamine-immunoreactive (HA-IR) elements, the labelled neurons were confined to the pedal, cerebral and buccal ganglia, whereas no IR cells within the pleural, parietal and visceral ganglia were detectable during the embryogenesis. Peripheral projections of the embryonic HA-IR neurons were missing. No transient HA-IR neurons could be found either inside or outside the CNS. The first HA-IR elements appeared at about E55% of embryonic development, at the beginning of metamorphosis, and were represented by three pairs of neurons located in the cerebral ganglia. Following metamorphosis, four pairs of HA-IR neurons were added; two of them occurred in the pedal (E65% stage of development) and two in the buccal (E90% stage of development) ganglia. During embryogenesis, HA-IR fibers were present in the cerebro-pedal connectives and in the cerebral, pedal and buccal commissures, whereas only little arborization could be observed in the neuropil of the ganglia. HPLC measurements revealed a gradual increase of HA content in the embryos during development, corresponding well to the course of the appearance of immunolabeled elements. It is suggested that the developing HAergic system plays a specific role in the process of gangliogenesis and CNS plasticity of embryonic Lymnaea.
Department of Experimental Zoology, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box. 35, H-8237 Tihany, Hungary. hegedus@tres.blki.hu
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Hegedus
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Kaslin
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Elekes
D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D047108:Embryonic Development; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate / Q000502:physiology; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000196:embryology*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008974:Mollusca; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D006632:Histamine