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Science 7 April 1989:
Vol. 244. no. 4900, pp. 64 - 66
DOI: 10.1126/science.2704990
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Articles

Science, Vol 244, Issue 4900, 64-66
Copyright © 1989 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Central synaptic inputs to identified leech neurons determined by peripheral targets

CM Loer and WB Kristan Jr

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

Developing Retzius (Rz) neurons in different segments of the central nervous system of the medicinal leech have different peripheral targets: Rz cells in standard segments innervate the body wall, whereas Rz cells in the reproductive segments innervate reproductive tissue. Early removal of reproductive tissue primordia causes reproductive Rz cells to develop morphologically like their standard segmental homologs, suggesting that Rz cells depend on peripheral targets for signals that determine their central and peripheral morphology. Furthermore, after removal of reproductive tissue, reproductive Rz cells also receive synaptic inputs normally appropriate for standard Rz cells. These results suggest that the functional identity of these neurons is specified by the target they contact during embryogenesis.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Retrograde Signaling in the Development and Modification of Synapses.
R. M. FITZSIMONDS and M.-M. POO (1998)
Physiol Rev 78, 143-170
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Developmental origin of segmental identity in the leech mesoderm.
L. Gleizer and G. S. Stent (1993)
Development 117, 177-189
   Abstract »    PDF »


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