Specificity of Muscle Response of the Japanese Medical Leech to Acetylcholine

Abstract
Muscle specificity to acetylcholine [ACh] and its block by cholinergic antagonists [atropine, d-tubocurarine and gallamine] in the muscle respone of the medicinal leech Hirudo nipponia Whitman were studied. The thin muscle strip of the Japanese medicinal leech responded specifically to acetylcholine via a nicotinic receptor and was reversibly blocked by curare. Results were comparable to those obtained from H. medicinalis.