MODIFICATION BY TEMPERATURE OF CONDUCTION AND GANGLIONIC TRANSMISSION IN THE GASTROPOD NERVOUS SYSTEM

Abstract

The pedal ganglia of the terrestrial gastropod Ariolimax contain junctions between nerve fibers which are shown to be preferential points of fatigue and which exhibit facilitation (summation) of preganglionic impulses to produce a postganglionic spike. These characteristics in conjunction with others previously reported (reversible susceptibility to nicotine, convergence of preganglionic impulses, and inhibition of transmission through setting up a refractory state in the postganglionic fiber) are considered sufficient to indicate synaptic transmission in the pedal ganglia.