Maintenance and regeneration of the nerve net in hydra

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Due to the tissue dynamics, the entire nervous system of a hydra is in a steady state of production and loss of neurons Neurons arise by differentiation from the interstitial cells in the ectoderm Nerve cell intermediates migrate along the body column, settle and complete differentiation The type of neuron formed is a function of axial or regional location in which the differentiation intermediate settles Another result of the tissue dynamics is that all neurons are constantly changing their location As a consequence, many neurons switch from one type of nerve cell to another in accord with positional changes. © 1988 by the American Society of Zoologists.