Summary
The ultrastructure of the follicle gland and of some “Gomori-positive” neurosecretory cells in the lateral lobes of the cerebral ganglia of Lymnaea stagnalis is described.The follicle wall consists of epithelial cells containing secretion granules, and of processes of lateral lobe nerve cells bearing cilia, including the processes of bipolar neurosecretory B-cells. The ultrastructure of the follicle of Ancylus fluviatilis and Planorbarius corneus appeared to be very similar to that of L. stagnalis. From the ultrastructure of the follicle wall and lumen, no conclusions can be drawn as to its formerly proposed possible functions (sense organ, endocrine organ, neuroendocrine organ). Of three neurosecretory cell types (B-cells, canopy cells, droplet cells), the positivity to chrome-haematoxylin and paraldehyde-fuchsin appeared to be due to elementary granules of different size and appearance. This finding supports in a particular sense the view that results obtained with the “neurosecretory” stains, should be judged carefully. Also in “ordinary” neurons elementary granules can be found, at times in great numbers. Several types of elementary granules (at least 6) could be distinguished. Their character and function (neurohormones, neurotransmitters) are not clear.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amoroso, E. C., M. I. Baxter, A. O. J. Chiquoine, and R. H. Nisbet: The fine structure of neurons and other elements in the nervous system of the giant African land snail, Archachatina marginata. Proc. roy. Soc. B 160, 167–180 (1964).
Bern, H. A.: The properties of neurosecretory cells. Gen. comp. Endocr. Suppl. 1, 117–132 (1962).
— The secretory neuron as a doubly specialized cell, p. 349–366. In: D. Mazia and A. Tyler (eds.), General physiology of cell specialization. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1963.
Boer, H. H.: A cytological and cytochemical study of neurosecretory cells in Basommatophora, with particular reference to Lymnaea stagnalis L. Arch. néerl. Zool. 16, 313–386 (1965).
Boer, H. H., and J. Lever: On the anatomy of the circulatory system in Ferissia shimekii (Ancylidae, Pulmonata); especially on the blood supply of the central nervous system. Proc. kon. ned. Akad. Wet. C 62, 76–83 (1959).
— S. E. Wendelaar Bonga, and N. Van Rooijen: Light and electron microscopical investigations on the salivary glands of Lymnaea stagnalis L. Z. Zellforsch. 76, 228–247 (1967).
Cook, H.: Morphology and histology of the central nervous system of Succinea putris (L.). Arch. néerl. Zool. 17, 1–72 (1966).
Farquhar, M. G., and G. E. Palade: Functional evidence for the existence of a third cell type in the renal glomerulus. J. Cell Biol. 13, 55–87 (1962).
Gerschenfeld, H. M.: Observations in the ultrastructure of synapses in some pulmonate molluscs. Z. Zellforsch. 60, 258–275 (1963).
Hagadorn, I. R., H. A. Bern, and R. S. Nishioka: The fine structure of the supraesophageal ganglion of the rhynchobdellid leech, Theromyzon rude, with special reference to neurosecretion. Z. Zellforsch. 58, 714–758 (1963).
Joosse, J.: Dorsal bodies and dorsal neurosecretory cells of the cerebral ganglia of Lymnaea stagnalis L. Arch. néerl. Zool. 16, 1–103 (1964).
Knowles, F. G. W., and H. A. Bern: The function of neurosecretion in endocrine regulation. Nature (Lond.) 210, 271 (1966).
Lane, N. J.: The fine structural localization of phosphatases in neurosecretory cells within the ganglia of certain gastropod snails. Amer. Zoologist 6, 139–157 (1966).
Lever, J.: Some remarks on neurosecretory phenomena in Ferrissia sp. (Gastropoda, Pulmonata). Proc. kon. ned. Akad. Wet. C 60, 510–522 (1957).
— On the occurrence of a paired follicle gland in the lateral lobes of the cerebral ganglia of some Ancylidae. Proc. kon. ned. Akad. Wet. C 61, 235–242 (1958).
—, H. H. Boer, R. J. Th. Duiven, J. J. Lammens, and J. Wattel: Some observations on follicle glands in pulmonates. Proc. kon. ned. Akad. Wet. C 62, 139–144 (1959).
—, and J. Joosse: On the influence of the salt content of the medium on some special neurosecretory cells in the lateral lobes of the cerebral ganglia of Lymnaea stagnalis. Proc. kon. ned. Akad. Wet. C 63, 630–639 (1961).
—, Marijke, Kok, Elisabeth A. Meuleman, and J. Joosse: On the location of Gomori-positive neurosecretory cells in the central ganglia of Lymnaea stagnalis. Proc. kon. ned. Akad. Wet. C 64, 640–647 (1961).
—, C. M. de Vries, and J. C. Jager: On the anatomy of the central nervous system and on the location of neurosecretory cells in Australorbis glabratus. Malacologia 2, 219–230 (1965).
Loos, H. Van der: Fine structure of synapses in the cerebral cortex. Z. Zellforsch. 60, 815–825 (1963).
McGee-Russell, S. M.: On bridging the gap in cytology between the light and electron microscopes by some combined observations on snail neurons. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 105, 139–161 (1964).
Mol, J. J. Van: Étude histologique de la glande céphalique au cours de la croissance chez Arion rufus Linné. Ann. Soc. roy. Zool. Belg. 91, 45–55 (1960).
Nabias, B. De: Recherches sur le système nerveux des gastéropodes pulmonés aquatiques. Cerveau des limnées (Limnaea stagnalis). Trav. Lab. Soc. Sci. et Station Zool. Arcachon, 1–28 (1899).
Nishioka, R. S., L. Simpson, and H. A. Bern: The fine structure of the follicle gland of the snail Lymnaea auricularia (Gastropoda, Pulmonata). The Veliger 7, 1–4 (1964).
Nolte, A.: Neurohämal-„Organe“ bei Pulmonaten (Gastropoda). Zool. Jb. Anat. 82, 265–380 (1965).
— Die Feinstruktur der Cerebraldrüse von Planorbarius corneusL. (Basommatophora). Z. Zellforsch. 75, 125–128 (1966).
—, H. Breucker u. D. Kuhlmann: Cytosomale Einschlüsse und Neurosekret im Nervengewebe von Gastropoden. Untersuchungen am Schlundring von Crepidula fornicata L. (Prosobranchier, Gastropoda). Z. Zellforsch. 68, 1–27 (1965).
—, u. D. Kuhlmann: Histologie und Sekretion der Cerebraldrüse adulter Stylommatophoren (Gastropoda). Z. Zellforsch. 63, 550–567 (1964).
Pease, D. C.: Histological technique for electron microscopy, 2nd ed. New York: Academic Press, Inc. 1964.
Schlote, F. W.: Neurosekretartige Grana in den peripheren Nerven und in den Nerv-Muskel Verbindungen von Helix pomatia. Z. Zellforsch. 60, 325–347 (1963).
—, u. W. Hanneforth: Endoplasmatische Membransysteme und Granatypen in Neuronen und Gliazellen von Gastropodennerven. Z. Zellforsch. 60, 872–892 (1963).
Simpson, L., H. A. Bern, and R. S. Nishioka: Inclusions in the neurons of Aplysia californica (Cooper, 1863) (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia). J. comp. Neurol. 121, 237–257 (1963).
—, H. A. Bern, and R. S. Nishioka: Survey of evidence for neurosecretion in Gastropod molluscs. Amer. Zoologist 6, 123–138 (1966a).
—, H. A. Bern, and R. S. Nishioka: Examination of the evidence for neurosecretion in the nervous system of Helisoma tenue (Gastropoda, Pulmonata) Gen. comp. Endocrinol. 7, 525–549 (1966b).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brink, M., Boer, H.H. An electron microscopical investigation of the follicle gland (cerebral gland) and of some neurosecretory cells in the lateral lobe of the cerebral ganglion of the pulmonate gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis L.. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 79, 230–243 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369287
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369287