ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF NEUROSECRETORY-CELLS IN THE BRAIN OF HELIX-ASPERSA

1. 1. The neurosecretory cells in the brain of Helix aspersa, exhibit a range of electrical activity. The cells can be silent, have a regular or irregular firing pattern of slow or high frequency or have a bursting rhythm. 2. 2. The DGC and LGC accumulate exogenous 5-HT, dopamine, histamine and their respective precursors 5-HTP, DOPA and histidine as was shown by autoradiography and fluorescence histochemistry. 3. 3. A few cells took up more than one transmitter substance. 4. 4. The LGC show various responses of drugs added to the bath, but the few DGC and YC studied had similar results. 5. 5. The effects of the neurotransmitters on the neuromembrane are transitory while those of the peptidergic hormones are of long duration. 6. 6. The endogenous electrical activities and pharmacology of the NSC cannot be used to characterise the different cell types as identified by AB/AY staining. © 1979.