| Summary: | The distribution of APGWamide-like and FMRFamide-like immunoreactive neurons involved in the mating behaviour of the terrestrial snail Helix aspersa have been investigated in the mesocerebrum by retrograde and anterograde labelling and immunostaining techniques. Retrograde labelling shows that 25-40 mesocerebral neurons have an axon in the penis nerve and a similar number of neurons have an axon in the nervus cutaneus pedalis primus dexter (NCPD). It was found that the mesocerebral neurons also project to the nervus cutaneus pedalis secundus dexter (NCSD), the medial lip nerves, the posterior lip nerve, the peritentacular nerve, and the pedal ganglion. Some mesocerebral neurons have multiple projections. Quantitative analysis using confocal laser scanning microscopy indicates that approximately half of the mesocerebral neurons projecting to the penis nerve contain APGWamide-like peptide and half of the mesocerebral neurons projecting to the NCPD contain FMRFamide-like peptide. Some mesocerebral neurons have both peptides. These results are generally in agreement with the hypothesis that the neurons projecting to the penis nerve contain APGWamide, while those projecting to the NCPD contain FMRFamide.
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