Regeneration of a distinctive set of axosomatic contacts in the leech central nervous system

The nociceptive sensory neurons (N cells) in the leech Hirudo medicinalis contact other neurons through conventional synapses in the neuropile and through baskets of processes that wrap the somata of particular cells. These axosomatic contacts are made with the pressure (P) and N sensory neurons in the adjacent segmental ganglia, but not with cells within the same ganglion as the wrapping cell. Physiological evidence indicates that these contacts may be synaptic, although conventional synapses have not been observed with electron microscopy. After they have been injured, lateral N cell processes can grow into the anterior adjacent ganglion and regenerate somatic contacts. In general, regenerated N cell processes wrap the same somata as do intact N cells, but they often wrap fewer somata. However, six of 14 regenerated N cells also wrapped the soma of a small posterior cell that was contacted in only one of 120 normal ganglia examined. It thus appears that the growing processes of an injured N cell select certain cell somata to wrap, but that the selection is somewhat broader than that in the embryonic leech.

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

Hirudo medicinalis N-cell nociceptive sensory neurons selectively form axosomatic basket contacts with P and N sensory neurons in adjacent ganglia, recovering the wiring pattern after axotomy — demonstrating target-specific CNS regeneration.

Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой

More peer-reviewed studies in Геномика и протеомика.

• 434 Salivary Proteins — Integrated Proteomics of Hirudo medicinalis — Liu et al. (2019)
• Medicinal Leech Genome Assembly — Anticoagulant Gene Catalog — Kvist et al. (2020)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• [Research progress in hirudin fusion protein--review] — Zhang C et al. (2007)
• In-vitro antileishmanial potential of peptide drug hirudin — Khan H et al. (2017)
• Bacterial symbioses of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana — Nelson M, Graf J (2012)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →