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First published online 30 June 2004
doi: 10.1242/dev.01237

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Apical sensory neurones mediate developmental retardation induced by conspecific environmental stimuli in freshwater pulmonate snails

Elena E. Voronezhskaya¹, Marina Yu. Khabarova² and Leonid P. Nezlin^1,*,

¹ Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow 117808, Russia
² Tula State Pedagogical University, Tula 300026, Russia

Author for correspondence (e-mail: lnezlin{at}gwdg.de)

Accepted 28 April 2004

Freshwater pond snails Helisoma trivolvis and Lymnaea stagnalis undergo larval development and metamorphosis inside egg capsules. We report that their development is permanently under slight tonic inhibitory influence of the anterior sensory monoaminergic neurones, which are the remnants of the apical sensory organ. Conspecific juvenile snails, when reared under conditions of starvation and crowding, release chemical signals that are detected by these neurones in encapsulated larvae and reversibly suppress larval development, thus providing a link between environmental signals and developmental regulation. Induced retardation starts from the trochophore stage and results in up to twofold prolongation of the larval lifespan. Upon stimulation with the signal, the neurones increase synthesis and release of monoamines [serotonin (5-HT) in Helisoma and dopamine in Lymnaea] that inhibit larval development acting via ergometrine-sensitive internal receptors. Thus, the novel regulatory mechanism in larval development of molluscs is suggested and compared with the phenomenon of dauer larvae formation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Key words: Mollusc, Conditioned water, Apical sensory neurones, Larval development, Serotonin, Dopamine, Ergometrine-sensitive receptor

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