ALM and PLM
The Mind of a Worm

Members :ALML, ALMR ; PLML, PLMR.

ALM and PLM are two sets of two sensory neurons that transduce touch stimuli (Chalfie & Sulston 1981). Both ALM and PLM have long lateral processes, closely apposed to the cuticle, which contain large, darkly staining microtubules (g) (Chalfie & Thomson 1982). Microtubules with the same appearance are seen in AVM and PVM, which are also part of the touch-transducing system. ALM The cell bodies of ALM are situated laterally in the mid-body (i). Anteriorly directed processes leave the cell bodies and run near the dorsal edge of the lateral hypodermal ridges in close association with the processes of ALN (*d). Each process sends off a branch, which enters the nerve ring sub-dorsally; this then runs ventrally round the ring near the inside surface, ending soon after it meets a process of AVM. The processes of ALM are predominantly presynaptic in the nerve ring and synapse onto BDU (a), PVC (b) and CEP (c). There are gap junctions to AVM (*d) and PVR (d). PLM The cell bodies or PLM are situated in the lumbar ganglia (j). Anteriorly and posteriorly directed processes emanate from the cell bodies and run near the ventral edge of the lateral hypodermal ridges (g) in close association with the processes of PLN for part of their length. Gap junctions are made to PVC (h), LUA (*d), and PVR where the processes of PLM cross the lumbar commissures (j). Each HSN sends out a short ventral branch, which receives a single synapse from the lateral PLM processes (g). The processes of PLM turn and enter the ventral cord via a commissure near the vulva. The process of PLML does not get over the hypodermal ridge (which is rather wide at this point due to the proximity or the vulva) and has no synapses. The process of PLMR runs along the neuropile of the cord for a short distance and synapses onto DVA (e), AVA (f), PDE (e) and AVD (e, f). Magnifications: (a, b, d, g, h) x 25500, (c, e, f) x 12750.

PLM ventral cord synapses
partners gap junctions synapses from synapses to and corecipients
DVA - - 5 PDE
PDE - - 5 DVA
AVA - - 1, 3 AVD, PVC
AVD - - 1, 3 AVA
HSN - - 2
PVC 2 - AVA
LUA 2 - -
PVR 2 - -
PHC 1 - -
AVJ - 1 -

Web adaptation, Thomas Boulin, for Wormatlas, 2001, 2002