[Water-soluble proteins of the subesophageal ganglionic complex in the edible snail in the early stages of learning].

During the early stages of conditioned defensive reflex formation, a dramatic increase in the acidic protein concentration can be seen in the snail CNS (the mobility 0.58 in polyacrylamide gel) with reference to water-soluble proteins of the animals' ganglions under study. Such an increase occurs at the time when the majority of neurons are involved in the learning process. The rise of the protein content is also seen upon the snail arousal, 2-6 h after being awake. It is suggested that the high level of the protein correlates with the appearance of the orientation reflexes. At the cellular level this phenomenon appears to be linked with increased excitability of a great number of neurons.