Neural Control of Heart Beat in the African Giant Snail, Achatina Fulica Férussac: II. Interconnections Among the Heart Regulatory Neurones

The synaptic connections between identified heart regulatory neurones were examined in the central nervous system of the African giant snail, Achatina fulica Férussac. Two cerebral ganglion cells, the dorsal right and left cerebral distinct neurones (d-RCDN and d-LCDN), were found to have excitatory connections with several neurones in the suboesophageal ganglia (the periodically oscillating neurone, PON, the tonically autoactive neurones, TAN, TAN-2 and TAN-3, and the visceral intermittent firing neurone, VIN) and the connections are probably monosynaptic. VIN had a weak electrical coupling with PON. VIN inhibited TAN, TAN-2 and TAN-3, and the connections were considered to be monosynaptic. At the same time, TAN, TAN-2, TAN-3 and the visceral ganglion neurone (VG1) inhibited PON and VIN although the connections are unlikely to be monosynaptic. Another neurone in the pedal ganglia, the dorsal left pedal large neurone (d-LPeLN), was found to excite PON, VIN, TAN, TAN-2 and TAN-3. These connections were not monosynaptic. These results are interpreted in relation to heart regulation in Achatina.