ELECTROTONIC TRANSMISSION BETWEEN TWO NERVE CELLS IN LEECH GANGLION

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Abstract
Properties of electrotonic interaction were studied for a pair of "colossal" nerve cells in the segmental ganglion of a leech, Hirudo medicinalis. The attenuation factor of the potential spread along the electrotonic connection does not depend on the polarity of the potential change, but it increases as the time course of the potential change becomes faster. Bidirectional transmission of a spike occurs through the connection and sometimes transmission back and forth results in multiple spikes in either cells. It is thought that no conduction of impulses occurs in the cell bodies of the cells or in the connections.