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Related Experiment Videos

Central synaptic inputs to identified leech neurons determined by peripheral targets.

C M Loer1, W B Kristan

  • 1Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 7, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Target tissues guide neuron development in leeches. Removing reproductive tissue caused reproductive neurons to develop like standard ones, indicating target-dependent neural identity.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Zoology

Background:

  • Retzius (Rz) neurons in medicinal leeches exhibit distinct peripheral targets based on their segmental location.
  • Standard segment Rz neurons innervate the body wall, while reproductive segment Rz neurons target reproductive tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of peripheral targets in determining the central and peripheral morphology of Retzius neurons.
  • To understand how target interactions influence the functional identity of developing neurons.

Main Methods:

  • Surgical removal of reproductive tissue primordia in early leech development.
  • Morphological analysis of Retzius neurons in standard versus experimentally altered reproductive segments.
  • Electrophysiological assessment of synaptic inputs to Retzius neurons after tissue removal.

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Main Results:

  • Early removal of reproductive tissue primordia resulted in reproductive Rz cells adopting morphologies similar to standard Rz cells.
  • Experimentally altered reproductive Rz cells also received synaptic inputs typically observed in standard Rz cells.
  • These findings indicate a dependence of Rz neuron development on signals from their peripheral targets.

Conclusions:

  • The peripheral target contacted by a neuron during embryogenesis is a critical determinant of its final morphology and functional identity.
  • Neural development and differentiation are significantly influenced by target-derived cues, as exemplified by Retzius neurons in the medicinal leech.