Distribution Of Glutamate-,GABA-,5-HT,ACh-and DA-containing Neurons In The Cerebral And Pedal Ganglia Of Cristaria Plicata Leach

Glutamate, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine are classical neurotransmitters. There have been a great many studies on their distributions and physiological functions in mammals. However, little is known about their distributions and functions in Molluscs, especially in freshwater mussels. Freshwater mussels have a tight connection with humans, and they are the most widely distributed genus. Freshwater mussel is one of the most seriously threatened species. In order to provide anatomical and morphological basis for the physiological and ethological studies, as well as the protection and biological control for Freshwater mussels, it is necessary to understand the structure and function of their nervous system.In the present study, we used SP immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis to study the distributions of glutamate, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine neurons in the central nervous of Cristaria plicata Leach. The results showed that the cellular layer of the cerebral ganglion contains numerous GABAergic neurons and a small number of glutamate, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine neurons with relatively big cell body, and the neuropil of the cerebral ganglion has a dense distribution of GABAergic fibers, with scattered nerve endings of glutamate, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine. Similarly, the cellular layer of the pedal ganglion contains abundant GABAergic neurons but scattered glutamate, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine neurons, and the neuropil of the pedal ganglion has dense GABAergic fibers and sporadic terminals of glutamate, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine. In brief, the present results indicate that the cerebral and pedal ganglia of the Cristaria plicata Leach have glutamate, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine and dopamine neurons, but the quantity and density of these neurons are different. Meanwhile, we found that neurons in the cerebral, pedal and visceral ganglia demonstrate a strong red and green autofluorescence.