Molecular mechanisms of short-term habituation in the leech Hirudo medicinalis.

Although habituation is ubiquitous in the animal kingdom, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we began to explore the molecular cascades underlying short-term habituation in the leech Hirudo medicinalis. In H.

Sensitization and dishabituation of swim induction in the leech Hirudo medicinalis: role of serotonin and cyclic AMP.

In this paper the role of serotonin (5HT) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) in sensitization and dishabituation of swim induction (SI) has been investigated in the leech Hirudo medicinalis. Electrical stimulation of the body wall evokes swimming activity with a constant latency. In animals with a disconnection between head ganglion and segmental ganglia, repetitive stimulation induces habituation of swimming whereas brushing on the dorsal skin provokes sensitization of a naïve response or dishabituation of a previously habituated response.