Summary
In the cerebral ganglion of the earthworm, Allolobophora caliginosa, green- and yellow-fluorescent neurons were demonstrated by the Falck-Hillarp technique. Unpublished microspectrofluorimetric data (Koritsánszky and Hartwig) show that these perikarya contain either dopamine, noradrenaline or serotonin. In order to identify the fluorescent neurons in trichrome-stained material, Falck-Hillarp preparations were post-stained with Heidenhain's azan method. In azan preparations the green-fluorescent cells appear violet-blue and the yellow-fluorescent cells are cornflower-blue. They are clearly distinguished from acidophilic (“Gomori-positive”) elements. However, there is evidence for another, non-aminergic, azan-blue cell type in the cerebral ganglion of Allolobophora.
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This work was supported by a fellowship of the Alexander von Humbolt-Foundation, Federal Republic of Germany, 1973.
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Koritsánszky, S. Identification of monoaminergic fluorescent neurons by azan-staining in the cerebral ganglion of the earthworm, Allolobophora caliginosa . Cell Tissue Res. 149, 137–141 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209056
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00209056