Structure, development, and maintenance of the nerve net of the body column in Hydra.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Shinshu University, Nagano, Japan. BIOLOGY@GIPNC.SHINSHU-U.AC.JP

The anatomy and developmental dynamics of the nerve net in the body column of Hydra viridissima were examined immunocytochemically with a monoclonal antibody (CC04) that recognizes an antigen in nerve cells and with an antiserum against vasopressin. CC04+ neuron cell bodies, their neurites, and vasopressin-like-immunoreactive (VLI+) neurites could be clearly visualized on whole-mount preparations. All neurites of the CC04+ neurons in the body column were VLI+. However, only half of the VLI+ neurites in the body column were CC04+. Immunocytochemical analysis of macerated preparations showed that half of the neurons in the gastric region of the body column were CC04+. These results suggest that most of the neurons in the gastric region are VLI+. The density of the VLI+ neurites was uniform along the entire length of the body column. The CC04+ neuron density in the gastric region remained constant at all stages of asexual development and during foot regeneration. After pulse-labeling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), CC04+ neurons with labeled nuclei appeared in the body column. We conclude that neuron density in the gastric region is maintained at a constant value by insertion of new neurons in parallel with continuous epithelial cell division.

PMID: 8876461 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]