Evidence for proctolin-like substances in the central nervous system of the leech Hirudo medicinalis

The distribution of proctolin-like immunoreactive (PLI) cells was mapped in the central nervous system of the leech Hirudo medicinalis. In segmental ganglia, PLI cells can be divided into two groups: cells that stain repeatedly in every successive ganglion, and cells that stain only in specific segmental ganglia. The number of PLI cells, therefore, ranged from eight to 20 cells per ganglion. One bilateral pair of PLI cells (cells PLI-1) was further characterized morphologically by Lucifer yellow and horseradish peroxidase cell injections. Cell PLI-1 conforms in soma position, morphology, and physiological properties with cell 101, which has been previously classified as an inhibitory motoneuron to the flattener muscles. A locust bioassay (O'Shea and Adams, Science 213:567-569, 1981) was used to detect the presence of proctolin-like bioactivity. Extracts of leech ganglia when applied to the extensor tibialis muscle of the locust leg induced a proctolin-like response similar to the responses induced by proctolin standards. This work extends the finding of proctolin-like substances to the annelid phylum.