Putative nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing cells in the central nervous system of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis: NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry

The presence and distribution of putative nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing cells in whole-mount preparations of the central nervous system of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis, were studied using NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry. Specific staining occurred mainly in somata of some central neurones but NADPH-d-reactive branches and terminals were found in peripheral nerves and connectives: neuropile areas were stained weakly or unstained. Intense staining was located in many neurones on the ventral side of the segmental ganglia, including primary sensory neurones, motoneurones and interneurones, and in the anterior root ganglion. The sex ganglia contained some extra NADPH-d-positive cells. Head and tail ganglia and the dorsal side of the segmental ganglia showed less staining. Specific activity was not detected in salivary glands, crop or intestine. Controls using beta-NADPH or nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) alone or with NBT plus alpha-NADPH, beta-NAD+, beta-NADH or beta-NADP+ did not induce specific staining. A potential NOS inhibitor, 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DPiP) at 10(-3) M, totally abolished NADPH-d-positive staining. Long-term fixation did not change the pattern of distribution of NADPH-d-positive cells. We conclude that (i) fixative-resistant NADPH-diaphorase is a characteristic marker of 12-15% of neurones in the leech CNS, and (ii) the specific distribution of the putative NOS-containing neurones suggests that NO may be a natural signal molecule in leeches.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Peer-reviewed clinical and outcomes research relevant to medicinal leech therapy and its biology. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.

Erfahren Sie, wie diese Forschung mit der klinischen Praxis verknüpft ist

More peer-reviewed studies in Klinische Studien.

• Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis — The Landmark RCT — Michalsen et al. (2003)
• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Wound healing potential of bark paste of Pongamia pinnata along with hirudotherapy: A case report — Balasooriya D, Karunarathna C, Uluwaduge I (2021)
• AIF-1 and RNASET2 Play Complementary Roles in the Innate Immune Response of Medicinal Leech — Baranzini N et al. (2019)
• Study on the effect of medicinal leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) on full-thickness excisional wound healing in the animal model — Zakian A et al. (2022)
• [Hirudo medicinalis-leech applications in plastic and reconstructive microsurgery--a literature review] — Knobloch K et al. (2007)
• The duration of rest and feeding greatly affects the re-breeding of ectoparasites: Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo orientalis — Aminov R, Frolov A, Aminova A (2022)
• Recombinant hirudin in clinical practice: focus on lepirudin — Greinacher A, Lubenow N (2001)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →