Seasonal variation of serotonin content and nonassociative learning of swim induction in the leech Hirudo medicinalis.

It is possible to obtain habituation of swim induction by stimulating the leech with repetitive light electrical trains. After obtaining this simple form of non-associative learning, it is also possible to potentiate its response by a series of nociceptive skin brushings (dishabituation). Serotonin applied to the animal is the only neurotransmitter found to mimick dishabituation. We have observed that in the period April-June most animals did not exhibit potentiation of the swimming response after nociceptive stimulation while injection of serotonin mimicked dishabituation as in the animals treated in the period October-March. We have seen correlation between the changes in nonassociative learning and the seasonal variation of serotonin levels in segmental ganglia. This finding strengthens the hypothesis of serotonin as the neurotransmitter mediating dishabituation in swim induction of the leech.