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Postsynaptic effects of a multiaction giant interneurone on identified snail neurones

Abstract

A FEW examples of identifiable neurones which have widespread monosynaptic and multi-action effects on large numbers of postsynaptic cells have been found in gastropod molluscs1–3. Such neurones are of considerable interest to neurophysiologists attempting to understand how the electrical activity of large networks of nerve cells can be integrated. We report here that the right pedal giant neurone (RPGN) of the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis (L.), is an interneurone with monosynaptic connections with many previously identified giant cells4 and cell clusters5 situated on the visceral and right parietal ganglia of Lymnaea. The RPGN mediates excitation on some cells, inhibition on others and biphasic effects (excitation followed by inhibition) on yet other cells.

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WINLOW, W., BENJAMIN, P. Postsynaptic effects of a multiaction giant interneurone on identified snail neurones. Nature 268, 263–265 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/268263a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/268263a0

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