REALIZATION OF BRAIN CHIMERAS IN THE STUD Y OF SNAIL GROWTH AND SEXUAL-DIFFERENTIATION

Neural grafting has been used as a tool to restore the impaired growth function after mesocerebrum extirpation in juvenile snails (Helix asp ersa aspersa). Utilization of the fluorescent dye fast-blue provides a powerful tool to study integration of grafted cells within the host b rain. The brain chimeras obtained by allogenic and xenogenic grafts re stored growth of the host snails with a variable efficiency (Helix asp ersa maxima > Helix pomatia > Helix aspersa aspersa > Helix lucorum). The present experiments have demonstrated the feasibility and efficien cy of neural grafts from different species of snails and the plasticit y of juvenile brains.