Summary
Neutral red and several related dyes selectively stain certain cells in the ventral nerve cord of the leech. These cells are identical with those that can be shown by the FalckHillarp fluorescence technique to contain serotonin or a catecholamine; evidence suggests that the catecholamine is dopamine. Although the mechanism of staining remains unknown, it does not depend on active uptake of the dye. Stained cells in ganglia that were incubated for 12 hours in culture medium retained their normal physiological properties. Thus neutral red may be useful for locating specific monoamine-containing neurons in living nervous tissue.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Coggeshall, B. E., Fawcett, D. W.: The fine structure of the central nervous system of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. J. Neurophysiol. 27, 229–289 (1964)
Eckert, R.: Electrical interaction of paired ganglion cells in the leech. J. gen. Physiol. 46, 573–587 (1963)
Ehinger, B., Falck, B., Myhrberg, H. E.: Biogenic monoamines in Hirudo medicinalis. Histochemie 15, 140–149 (1968)
Falck, B.: Observations on the possibilities of the cellular localization of monoamines by a fluorescence method. Acta physiol. scand. 56, Suppl. 197, 1–25 (1962)
Falck, B., Hillarp, N.-A., Thieme, G., Torp, A.: Fluorescence of catecholamines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde. J. Histoehem. Cytochem. 10, 348–354 (1962)
Frazier, W. T., Kandel, E. R., Kupfermann, I., Waziri, R., Coggeshall, E. E.: Morphological and functional properties of identified neurons in the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 1288–1351 (1967)
Hagiwara, S., Morita, H.: Electrotonic transmission between two nerve cells in leech ganglion. J. Neurophysiol. 25, 721–731 (1962)
Hildebrand, J. G., Barker, D. L., Herbert, E., Kravitz, E. A.: Screening for neurotransmitters: a rapid radiochemical procedure. J. Neurobiol. 2, 231–246 (1971)
Kerkut, G. A., Sedden, C. B., Walker, E. J.: Cellular localization of monoamines by fluorescence microscopy in Hirudo medicinalis and Lnmbricus terrestris. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 21, 687–690 (1967)
Kuffler, S. W., Potter, D. D.: Glia in the leech central nervous system: physiological properties and neuron-glia relationship. J. Neurophysiol. 27, 290–320 (1964)
Mains, R. E., Patterson, P. H.: Primary cultures of dissociated sympathetic neurons. II. Initial studies on oatecholamine metabolism. J. Cell Biol. 59, 346–360 (1973)
Nicholls, J. G., Baylor, D. A.: Specific modalities and receptive fields of sensory neurons in CNS of the leech. J. Neurophysiol. 31, 740–756 (1968)
Otsuka, M., Kravitz, E. A., Potter, D. D.: Physiological and chemical architecture of a lobster ganglion with particular reference to gamma-amino butyrate and glutamate. J. Neurophysiol. 30, 725–752 (1967)
Retzius, G.: Zur Kenntnis des zentralen Nervensystems der Würmer. Biol. Unters., N. F. 2, 1–28 (1891)
Rovainen, C. M.: Physiological and anatomical studies on large neurons of central nervous system of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). J. Neurophysiol. 30, 1000–1023 (1967)
Rude, S.: Monoamine-containing neurons in the central nervous system and peripheral nerves of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. J. comp. Neurol. 136, 349–372 (1969)
Rude, S., Coggeshall, R. E., van Orden, 3rd, L. S.: Chemical and ultrastructural identification of 5-hydroxytryptamine in an identified neuron. J. Cell Biol. 41, 832–854 (1969)
Wallace, B. G., Talamo, B. E., Evans, P. D., Kravitz, E. A.: Octopamine: selective association with specific neurons in the lobster nervous system. Brain Res. 74, 349–355 (1974)
Willows, A.O.D.: Behavioral acts elicited by stimulation of single, identifiable brain cells. Science 157, 570–574 (1967)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are grateful to Dr. S. Rude for advice on the Falck-Hillarp technique and to Dr. R. Coggeshall for advice and use of his freeze-drying apparatus. We thank Drs. J. Nicholls and E. Kravitz for helpful comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by USPHS Grants No. MH 11400, MH 07084, and NS 09646.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stuart, A.E., Hudspeth, A.J. & Hall, Z.W. Vital staining of specific monoamine-containing cells in the leech nervous system. Cell Tissue Res. 153, 55–61 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225445
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225445