Feeding and a serotonergic interneuron activate an identified autoactive salivary neuron in Limax maximus

1. 1. A single neuron is found in each buccal ganglion of the giant garden slug, Limax maximus, which is autoactive and has an axon in both the ipsilateral and contralateral salivary nerve. 2. 2. This neuron, the bilateral salivary neuron (BSN), is a slow bursting neuron and is presynaptic to some of the secretory acinar cells of the salivary gland. 3. 3. Increases in BSN action potential frequency and saliva flow during the generation of feeding motor program are shown, as is the relationship of BSN activity to that of other salivary neurons. 4. 4. BSN is affected synaptically by the serotonergic metacerebral giant cell.