Numbers, distribution, and types of neurons in the pedal disk of Hydra based on a serial reconstruction from transmission electron micrographs

The numbers, distribution, and types of neurons in a pedal disk of Hydra littoralis were determined from electron micrographs of 567 serial sections approximately 0.12 micron thick. Of 248 neurons counted, we found 234 ganglion cells in the epidermis and 14 in the gastrodermis. No sensory cells with surface projecting cilia were observed in either epithelial layer of the foot region. We found ciliary structures in 196 (84%) of the epidermal neurons: 55 had a well defined cilium-stereociliary complex, 30 had a cilium lacking stereocilia, and 111 could not be classified. In contrast, 38 epidermal neurons lacked evidence of ciliary structures; 10 of the 14 gastrodermal neurons had one or more centrioles, some with an elaborate pericentriolar rootlet system, but no cilium or stereocilia. Neuronal perikarya could be classified into those with dense heterochromatic nuclei and those with light granular nuclei; often these two nuclear variations were observed in paired or triad arrangements of epidermal neurons. In addition, 68 (29%) of the epidermal neurons were characterized by the presence of small dense granules (115-178 nm in diameter) in the cytoplasm around the periciliary space. Although 32 pairs and 5 triads of contiguous neuronal perikarya were present in the epidermis, only two paired neuronal perikarya were present in the gastrodermis. The major concentration of neurons was approximately midway between the basal surface and the region of transition of epitheliomuscular cells into glandulomuscular cells. There was no evidence of large neuronal aggregations suggestive of ganglia in the pedal disk.