Neurosecretion in the basommatophoran snail Bulinus truncatus (Gastropoda, Pulmonata)

The neurosecretory system of the freshwater snail Bulinus truncatus was investigated. With the Alcian blue-Alcian yellow (AB/AY) staining method at least 10 different types of neurosecretory cells (NSC) were distinguished in the ganglia of the central nervous system. The differences in staining properties of the NSC - with AB/AY the cells take on different shades of green and yellow - are borne out at the ultrastructural level: the NSC types contain different types of neurosecretory elementary granules. The neurosecretory system of B. truncatus is compared to that of Lymnaea stagnalis, the species which has received the most attention among the pulmonates. It appears from the comparison that the systems of both species show many similarities, although some differences are also apparent.