Summary
There is a giant dopamine-containing cell (GDC) in the left pedal ganglion of Planorbis corneus. Some presynaptic endings of the GDC are located within the visceral and left parietal ganglia, other endings are located peripherally. Dense-cored vesicles of 50–250 nm diameter were observed in the perikaryon and primary axon of the GDC. Electron microscope histochemistry suggests that these vesicles contain dopamine. Vesicles with a similar appearance are present in some axonal processes located in areas of the nervous system known to contain presynaptic endings of the GDC. This neurone offers unique advantages for studying the role of neuronal dopamine.
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We thank the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust for financial assistance.
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Pentreath, V.W., Berry, M.S. & Cottrell, G.A. Anatomy of the giant dopamine-containing neurone in the left pedal ganglion of Planorbis corneus . Cell Tissue Res. 151, 369–384 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224547
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224547