The neurons in the mesocerebrum of the right cerebral ganglion control the sexual behaviour of Helix aspersa maxima. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between reproductive development and the development of these neurons. The growth of right mesocerebrum neurons was quantified by filling cells with hexamminecobalt chloride at different ages. The neurite growth phase preceded that of the penis by about four weeks. Total neurite length was linearly correlated with soma diameter as measured in wholemounts. Diameter measurements from sectioned material showed that postembryonic growth in three CNS populations was expressed as increases in soma diameters but not in neuron numbers. The growth rate of right mesocerebrum cells between 5-20 weeks of age was significantly greater than that of the other two populations. Right mesocerebrum development was unaffected by male reproductive tissue ablation. this study shows that growth and development of the right mesocerebrum neurons of H. aspersa maxima occurs relatively late, but is complete prior to the initiation of reproductive behaviour.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.60497 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Laberge, Shelley |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Biology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001257445, proquestno: AAIMM72055, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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