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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Intracellular Recording, Sensory Field Mapping, and Culturing Identified Neurons in the Leech, Hirudo medicinalis
Published on: November 4, 2013
Proton-induced chloride current and voltage-activated Na+ and Ca2+ currents in embryonic neurons from the medicinal
K Gottmann1, I D Dietzel, H D Lux
1Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry, Department of Neurophysiology, Planegg-Martinsried, F.R.G.
Abstract:
Voltage-activated ionic currents and currents induced by step changes in proton concentration (pH 7.9-6.7) were studied in early embryonic neurons from Hirudo medicinalis. Ganglia were dissociated at embryonic day (E) 8-15, and the largest neurons were investigated using whole-cell patch clamp recording. All cells studied displayed voltage-activated Na+ and Ca2+ currents. Step changes in pH induced sustained currents which reversed at the equilibrium potential for Cl- and were blocked by substituting Cl- with acetate or sulfate. These currents thus differ in their ion selectivity from proton-induced currents in vertebrate neurons which are carried by Na+.
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