The supramedullary neurons of fish: present status and goals for the future

In this paper, we report the recent findings on supramedullary neurons of fish, with special attention to the studies, which made the nature of this neuronal system clear. Indeed, immunohistochemical, physiological and neuroanatomical data, taken together, point out that this neuronal system is a component of the autonomic nervous system. New goals have been opened by the more recent research, expecially in comparative neurobiology. Indeed, the supramedullary neurons, owing to some characteristics, like the DNA endoreplication, the large size, the accessible localization and the relationship with glial cells, may be utilised as a very suitable model in several fields of neurobiology of vertebrates, such as molecular genetic, electrophysiology, nervous system ageing, glial-neuron interactions.