Intralamellar neurohemal complexes in the cerebral commissure of the leech Macrobdella decora (Say, 1824): An electron microscope study

Electron microscopy of the cerebral ganglionic commissure of the leech Macrobdella decora (Say, 1824) revealed numerous neurosecretory axons terminating in the neural lamella of both the inner and outer capsules, and in the neural lamella deep within the neuropile. The proximal protions of the terminals, with an investment of glial tissue, contain either numerous large homogeneously electron dense granules, or numerous large granules of varying electron density. The distal portions, often devoid of glia, display numerous infoldings, omega profiles, and electron dense focal sites, and contain numerous neurosecretory granules, small lucent vesicles, and, occasionally, acanthosomes. Statistical analysis of the size distribution and morphology of the neurosecretory granules showed that in many individual terminals the granules are not significantly different from those seen within four groups of neurosecretory cells found in the cerebral ganglion. These terminals, because of their diffuse nature, probably represent a neurohemal complex of a primitive nature. The term “intralamellar complexes” is proposed to describe the form and location of these neurosecretory terminals.