Neuron Changes in a Mollusk in Response to Proteolytic Enzymes

The aims of the present work were to investigate the structure of neurons after treatment with proteases and to identify possible recovery of interneuronal syncytial connections. In the first series of experiments, phase-contrast microscopy studies of live dissociated neurons from ganglia of the mollusk Lymnaea stagnalis treated with 0.4% pronase solution demonstrated retraction of nerve processes and biphasic changes in cell body volume. At stage I, at an average of 82.5 min, neuron body volume decreased by 12.1%, after which it increased by a mean of 14.1%. Signs of neuron viability in Ringer’s solution were seen for an average of 828 min; survival time in pronase solution was 1.4 times shorter. In the second series of experiments, studies of neuron ultrastructure showed many cases of persistence of mitochondria, the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi complex, light and granular vesicles, nuclear structure, and neuroplasm optical density. Cells coming close together after centrifugation formed intracellular clefts of uniform width (about 20 nm). There were very rare cases of points at which membranes came into contact. There were no signs of syncytial connections. Lengthening and fusion of smooth ER cisterns separated fragments of neuron bodies from relatively undamaged cells. Some neurons were damaged, with multiple vacuoles formed form swollen mitochondria and ER cisterns. Fragments of nerve processes formed on dissociation were surrounded by a normal outer cell membrane.