The Leech as a Laboratory Animal for the biomedical Research

생명과학 연구를 위한 실험동물로서의 한국산 거머리에 관한 제고

We have collected a great Quantity of leeches, comprising five species, from six different ponds and rice paddies in the south-western part of Korea. The leeches were cultured in our laboratory with special interests on the blood-suckers (Himdo nipponial in fresh water supplemented with essential ions. A number of experiments was carried out with biomedical aspects. We have observed traits which can be used as a laboratory animal. The paper reports general features obsenred from leeches with preliminary study results carried in culture systems. The paper also describes study aspects of leeches in biochemistry, neurology and developmental biology.