Summary
The distribution of certain catecholamines and indoleamines in the ventral nerve cord and the body segments of the medical leech, Hirudo medicinalis, was studied with the fluorescence microscope technique of Falck and Hillarp, with microspectrofluorometry, and with chemical determinations of the amines. The six cells of the segmental ganglia previously shown to be chromaffin were found to contain an amine, most probably 5-hydroxytryptamine. In the two giant cells, the amine was found on the surface of coarse intracellular granules, lying mainly at the cell membrane, and at the nucleus. The two giant cells send their axons to the body muscles, which thus seem to have a 5-hydroxytryptaminergic innervation. The four smaller amine-containing cells of the segmental ganglia send their axons to the neuropil of the ganglion.
The only cell type found to contain a catecholamine (probably noradrenaline) was situated in the anterior segmental nerve in the cell cluster anterior of the nephridial duct, one cell in each nerve. The axon of this cell terminates in two or more segmental ganglia; thus these neurons seem to be afferent.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bertler, Å., and E. Rosengren: On the distribution in brain of monoamines and of enzymes responsible for their formation. Experientia (Basel) 15, 382 (1959).
Bianchi, S.: Ricerche istochimiche e fluoromicroscopiche su neuroni oromaffini degli Irudinei. Arch. Zool. (Torino) 47, 339–351 (1962).
Biedl, A.: Über das Adrenalgewebe bei Wirbellosen. Int. Congr. Zool. Graz 1912, S. 503–505.
Björklund, A., B. Ehinger, and B. Falck: A method for differentiating dopamine from noradrenaline in tissue sections by microspectrofluorometry. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 16, 263–270 (1968).
Clark, M. E.: Histochemical localization of monoamines in the nervous system of the polychaete Nephtys. Proc. roy. Soc. B 165, 308–325 (1966).
Corrodi, H., and G. Jonsson: The formaldehyde fluorescence method for the histochemical demonstration of biogenic monoamines. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15, 65–78 (1967).
Dahl, E., B. Falck, C. v. Mecklenburg, and H. Myhrberg: Adrenergic sensory neurons in invertebrates. Gen. comp. Endocr. 3, 693 (1963a).
— An adrenergic nervous system in sea anemones. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 104, 531–534 (1963b).
Elofsson, R., T. Kauri, S.-O. Nielsen, and J.-O. Strömberg: Localization of monoaminergic neurons in the central nervous system of Astacus astacus Linné (Crustacea). Z. Zellforsch. 74, 464–473 (1966).
Falck, B., and Ch. Owman: A detailed methodological description of the fluorescence method for the cellular demonstration of biogenic monoamines. Acta Univ. Lund., Sect. II, No 7, 1–23 (1965).
—, and Ch. Owman Histochemistry of monoaminergic mechanisms in peripheral neurons. In: Mechanisms of release of biogenic amines, p. 59–72. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1966.
Gaskell, J. F.: The chromaffin system of annelids and the relation of this system to the contractile vascular system in the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Phil. Trans. B 205, 153–211 (1914).
— Adrenalin in annelids. J. gen. Physiol. 2, 73–85 (1920).
Kerkut, G. A., C. B. Sedden, and R. J. Walker: The effect of DOPA, α-methyldopa and reserpine on the dopamine content of the brain of the snail, Helix aspersa. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 18, 921–930 (1966).
— Cellular localization of monoamines by fluorescence microscopy in Hirudo medicinalis and Lumbricus terrestris. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 21, 687–690 (1967).
Kostowski, W.: Studies on the effect of acetylcholine and serotonin on ganglion conduction in the leech (Hirudo medicinalis). Acta physiol. pol. 16, 457–463 (1965).
Myhrberg, H. E.: Monoaminergic mechanisms in the nervous system of Lumbricus terrestris (L.). Z. Zellforsch. 81, 311–343 (1967).
Perez, H. V. Z.: On the chromaffin cells of the nerve ganglia of Hirudo medicinalis, Lin. J. comp. Neurol. 76, 367–401 (1942).
Poll, H.: Gibt es Nebennieren bei Wirbellosen ? SitzBer. Ges. naturforsch. Fr. Berl. Nr 1, 18–24 (1908).
—, u. A. Sommer: Ueber phaeochrome Zellen im Centralnervensystem des Blutegels. Arch. Physiol. 27, 549–550 (1903).
Retzius, G.: Zur Kenntnis des centralen Nervensystems der Hirudineen. In: Biologische Untersuchungen, N. F., Bd. 2, S. 13–25. Stockholm: Samson & Wallin 1891.
Ritzén, M.: Cytochemical identification and quantitation of biogenic monoamines. Stockholm: P. A. Norstedt & Söner 1967.
Rude, S.: Monoamine-containing neurons in the nerve cord and body wall of Lumbricus terrestris. J. comp. Neurol. 128, 397–412 (1966).
Schain, R. J.: Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on the dorsal muscle of the leech (Hirudo medicinalis). Brit. J. Pharmacol. 16, 257–261 (1961).
Vialli, M.: Le cellule cromaffini dei gangli nervosi negli Irudinei. Atti Soc. ital. Milano 73, 57–73 (1934).
Welsh, J. H., and M. Moorhead: The quantitative distribution of 5-hydroxyptryptamine in the invertebrates, especially in their nervous systems. J. Neurochem. 6, 146–169 (1960).
Wense, Th.: Über den Nachweis von Adrenalin in Würmern und Insekten. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 241, 284–288 (1938).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (project no. 99-35) and the Swedish Medical Research Council (projects no. B 68-12 X-712-03 B and B 68-14 X-56-04 B).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ehinger, B., Falck, B. & Myhrberg, H.E. Biogenic monoamines in Hirudo medicinalis . Histochemie 15, 140–149 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306364
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306364