Peripheral organs control central neurogenesis in the leech

Abstract

INTERACTIONS between developing nerve centres and peripheral targets are known to affect neuronal survival and thus regulate the adult number of neurons in many systems^1,2. Here we provide evidence that peripheral tissues can also influence cell numbers by stimulating the production of neurons. In the leech Hirudo medicinalis, there is a population of several hundred neurons that is found only in the two segmental ganglia that innervate the genitalia³ and which seem to be added gradually during post-embryonic maturation^4,5. By monitoring 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation immunohistochemically, we have now determined that these neurons are actually born late in embryogenesis, well after all other central neurons are born and after efferent and afferent projections are established between these ganglia and the periphery. Ablation of the male genitalia early in embryogenesis, or evulsion of the nerves that connect them to the ganglia, prevent the birth of these neurons. However, they fail to appear ectopically when male genitalia are transplanted to other segments, despite innervation by local ganglia. We conclude that the generation of the late-appearing neurons depends on a highly localized signal produced by the male genitalia, to which only the ganglia that normally innervate these organs have the capacity to respond.