Serotonin immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the marine molluscs Pleurobranchaea californica and Tritonia diomedea

The central nervous systems of the marine molluscs Pleurobranchaea californica (Opisthobranchia: Notaspidea) and Tritonia diomedea (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia) were examined for serotonin‐immunoreactive (5‐HT‐IR) neurons and processes. Bilaterally paired clusters of 5‐HT‐IR neuron somata were distributed similarly in ganglia of the two species. In the cerebropleural ganglion complex, these were the metacerebral giant neurons (both species), a dorsal anterior cluster (Pleurobranchaea only), a dorsal medial cluster including identified neurons of the escape swimming network (both species), and a dorsal lateral cluster in the cerebropleural ganglion (Pleurobranchaea only). A ventral anterior cluster (both species) adjoined the metacerebral giant somata at the anterior ganglion edge. Pedal ganglia had the greatest number of 5‐HT‐IR somata, the majority located near the roots of the pedal commissure in both species. Most 5‐HT‐IR neurons were on the dorsal surface of the pedal ganglia in Pleurobranchaea and were ventral in Tritonia. Neither the buccal ganglion of both species nor the visceral ganglion of Pleurobranchaea had 5‐HT‐IR somata. A few asymmetrical 5‐HT‐IR somata were found in cerebropleural and pedal ganglia in both species, always on the left side. The clustering of 5‐HT‐IR neurons, their diverse axon pathways, and the known physiologic properties of their identified members are consistent with a loosely organized arousal system of serotonergic neurons whose components can be generally or differentially active in expression of diverse behaviors. J. Comp. Neurol. 395:466–480, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.