Development of segmental differences in the pressure mechanosensory neurons of the leech Haementeria ghilianii.

Using a monoclonal antibody specific for the pressure mechanosensory neurons (P cells) of the leech Haementeria ghilianii, we have examined the segmental differences between P cells in the adult nerve cord, as well as the development of these differences during embryogenesis. The standard segmental ganglion contains two pairs of P cells of about the same size and staining intensity. The sex ganglia appear to be missing the P cells that normally innervate ventral skin, and ganglia 20 and 21 have much smaller ventral P cells than most segments. The pattern of P cells in the head and tail ganglia also differs slightly from that of the standard ganglia. During embryogenesis, when the neurons are first stained by the antibody, there are two pairs of P cells of equal size in each segmental ganglion. Obvious segmental differences arise subsequently, modifying an initially identical set of cells.