Dramatic advances in electrophysiological technologies combined with the resilience of leech preparation have made experimental neuroscience accessible to the classroom. The Retzius cell in Hirudo Medicinalis is a prime target for current-dependent frequency studies. Fundamental spiking dynamics were explored in Retzius by examining short term memory effects of voltage clamping. Two successive ...

A recent study of how incompatible behaviors are suppressed during feeding in the medicinal leech Hirudo provides new insights into the mechanisms of decision-making in neuronal networks.

We present a case of successful artery only total nose replantation in an 18-month-old child, with 10 years of follow-up and full sensory recovery despite no nerve repair. The common absence of veins for anastomosis does not prevent successful replant, as demonstrated with the use of Hirudo medicinalis use in this unique case. We comprehensively review the literature of this rare and complex in...

Giant viruses and amoebae are common in freshwater, where they can coexist with other living multicellular organisms. We screened leeches from the species Hirudo medicinalis for giant viruses. We analyzed five H. medicinalis obtained from Tunisia (3) and France (2). The leeches were decontaminated and then dissected to remove internal parts for co-culture with Acanthamoeba polyphaga. The genome...

1. The interactions among the four pairs of interneurons (HN(1)-HN(4)) of the heartbeat timing oscillator are confined to the third and fourth ganglia (G3 and G4). In isolation, G3 and G4 each produces a rhythm essentially the same as that shown when the two ganglia are linked together. 2. The local circuits in both ganglia have the same general form. In both the oscillation centers on a bilate...

The Pedobacter sp. Hv1 strain was isolated from the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, mucosal castings. These mucosal sheds have been demonstrated to play a role in horizontal symbiont transmission. Here, we report the draft 4.9 Mbp genome sequence of Pedobacter sp. strain Hv1.