Specific in vitro synaptogenesis between identified Lymnaea and Helisoma neurons.

We tested the ability of identified neurons from two different families of pulmonate molluscs to form specific connections in vitro. The presynaptic neuron chosen for this study was the giant dopamine cell of Lymnaea stagnalis and Helisoma trivolvis which is known to synapse upon specific visceral and parietal ganglion neurons in both species. Here we show that the giant dopamine cells can reform specific connections in vitro on follower neurons from both species. Thus the mechanisms that determine synapse specificity are conserved between two different families of molluscs.