Functional morphology of the neuropeptidergic light-yellow-cell system in pulmonate snails.

The light yellow neuropeptidergic cell system of the basommatophoran snail Lymnaea stagnalis is homologous to the R3-R14 system of the opisthobranch Aplysia californica, and produces three different neuropeptides. Systems homologous to the light yellow cells of Lymnaea stagnalis have been investigated morphologically in two Basommatophora (Lymnaea ovata, Bulinus truncatus) and three Stylommatophora (Helix aspersa, Cepaea nemoralis, Deroceras reticulatum). To this end, an antibody to synthetic light-yellow-cell peptide-II and oligonucleotides to mRNAs encoding parts of peptide-I and peptide-III, were used. The in situ hybridization probes gave negative results. On the other hand, neuronal cell clusters were observed in the central nervous system of all specias studied by immunocytochemistry. These clusters were located in the ganglia of the visceral complex. The neurons project axons into all nerves of these ganglia, especially into the pallial nerves, into the connective tissue of the central nervous system, and into the neuropile of various ganglia. The morphology of the systems is similar to that of the light-yellow-cell system of Lymnaea stagnalis. In all species, the wall of the aorta was innervated by immunoreactive axons. Peripheral innervation by the light-yellow-cell system was investigated in Helix aspersa and Deroceras reticulatum. Serial and alternate sections of whole snails were studied. Reconstructions were made of the heart-kidney-lung complex of these animals. In both species, the muscular vessels of the pulmonary system at the right side of the body were strongly innervated by immunoreactive axons. Furthermore, immunopositive innervation was observed to muscles in the secondary ureter-pneumostome area. The light-yellow-cell system of pulmonates is thus probably involved in the regulation of blood pressure and urine release.