Rude S, Coggeshall E, Van Orden L S
J Cell Biol. 1969 Jun;41(3):832-54. doi: 10.1083/jcb.41.3.832.
The two largest cells in a typical ganglion of the leech (Hirudo medicinalis) nervous system are the colossal cells of Retzius. These cells show a positive chromaffin reaction, and it has been suggested that they contain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). In this study, the presence of 5-HT in the colossal cells was confirmed by microspectrofluorometry and by thin-layer chromatography and spectrofluorometry of extracts of individually dissected and pooled colossal cell bodies. A single colossal cell body was found to contain, on the average, 3.8 x 10(-10) g (6mM) 5-HT. Electron microscopy shows that the colossal cells are distinguished by the presence of 1000 A granules with irregular, electron-opaque cores. Since the granules are distributed in the same pattern as the 5-HT fluorescence, we have suggested that they contain 5-HT. Furthermore, a chromaffin reaction modified for the electron microscope provides evidence that 5-HT is present in the granule cores. These data can now serve as a basis for further studies on the metabolism, distribution, and function of 5-HT in these identified neurons.
水蛭（医用水蛭）神经系统典型神经节中的两个最大细胞是雷丘斯巨细胞。这些细胞呈现嗜铬反应阳性，有人认为它们含有5-羟色胺（5-HT）。在本研究中，通过显微分光荧光测定法以及对单个解剖和合并的巨细胞体提取物进行薄层色谱和分光荧光测定，证实了巨细胞中存在5-HT。发现单个巨细胞体平均含有3.8×10⁻¹⁰克（6毫摩尔）5-HT。电子显微镜显示，巨细胞的特征是存在直径为1000埃、核心不规则且电子密度高的颗粒。由于这些颗粒的分布模式与5-HT荧光相同，我们认为它们含有5-HT。此外，一种经电子显微镜改良的嗜铬反应提供了证据，表明5-HT存在于颗粒核心中。这些数据现在可作为进一步研究5-HT在这些已鉴定神经元中的代谢、分布和功能的基础。
