Morphology and electrophysiology of the ovulation hormone producing neuro-endocrine cells of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L.)

Abstract

The ovulation hormone producing neuro-endocrine cells of Lymnaea stagnalis, the caudo-dorsal cells (CDC), are comparable to the bag cells of Aplysia. Both cell types are capable of the production of a long-lasting activity (afterdischarge) during which an ovulation hormone is released. The CDC (30 cells in the left cerebral ganglion and 70 cells in the right) are usually electrically silent but an afterdischarge can be brought about in all cells of both groups by direct, repetitive electrical stimulation of single CDC. This is not possible in every preparation, indicating that the CDC can be in different states of excitability. All cells participate in the afterdischarge and fire approximately synchronously. All CDC are electrotonically connected. Results of experiments in which neurones were injected with horseradish peroxidase suggest that the demonstrated electrotonic connexions between the two opposite groups of CDC are brought about by 10-12 special axons.