Swart CC, Wattenberger A, Hackett A, Isaman D. Lifelong neurogenesis in the cerebral ganglion of the Chinese mud snail,
Cipangopaludina chinensis.
Brain Behav 2017;
7:e00652. [PMID:
28413703 PMCID:
PMC5390835 DOI:
10.1002/brb3.652]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
A small group of Gastropods possessing giant neurons have long been used to study a wide variety of fundamental neurophysiological phenomena. However, the majority of gastropods do not have large neurons but instead have large numbers of small neurons and remain largely unstudied. We explored neuron size and rate of increase in neuron numbers in the Chinese mud snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis.
METHODS
Using histological sections and whole mounts of the cerebral ganglia, we collected cross-sectional data on neuron number and size across the lifespan of this animal. Neurogenesis was verified using Click-it EdU staining.
RESULTS
We found that total neuron number in the cerebral ganglia increases throughout the lifespan of this species at a constant rate. New neurons arise primarily near the nerve roots. Females live longer (up to 7 years) than males (up to 5 years) and thus achieve larger numbers of neurons in the cerebral ganglion. Neuron size is consistently small (<10 μm) in the cerebral ganglia at all ages, however, cells in the posterior section of the cerebral ganglia are modestly but significantly larger than cells at the anterior.
CONCLUSIONS
These features suggest that C. chinensis and similar species of Caenogastropoda are good candidates for studying gastropod neurogenesis, senescence, and sex differences in the nervous system.
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