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An allatotropin-like neuropeptide in Mesostoma ehrenbergii (Rhabdocoela, Platyhelminthes)

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Abstract

Allatotropin (AT), a neuropeptide isolated on the basis of its ability to stimulate the synthesis of juvenile hormones (JHs) in insects, has also been found in other groups. In addition to this function, AT has proved to be myotropic. In the present study, we analyze its expression in the free-living turbellarian Mesostoma ehrenbergii (Platyhelminthes: Typhloplanida) and its probable functional relationship with the muscle tissue. The results show the presence of an AT-like peptide in neurons located in different regions of the body of the flatworm. The analysis of the presence of the peptide together with phalloidin labeling suggests a functional relationship between the peptide and the muscle tissue. This is particularly evident at the level of the pharynx, where the peptide induces contractions at concentrations of 10−14 and 10−12 M, suggesting that it is actually acting as a myoregulator. Detection of AT in several groups of protostomes but apparently not in deuterostomes suggests that this peptide could be a synapomorphic feature of protostomes. Indeed, the presence of AT in organisms that do not undergo metamorphosis could suggest that it was first involved in myotropic activities, being the induction of the synthesis of JHs a secondary function.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Fernando G. Noriega (Florida International University Florida-USA) for generously supplying us with Allatotropin and Allatotropin antibody and Mr. J. Alonso for the assistance in the field work. This study was financed with funds from the PICT 01287 (SECyT—Argentina). The authors also wish to thank to the anonymous reviewers for having greatly improved this manuscript with their comments and criticisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Div. Zool. Inv. Museo de La Plata (FCNyM-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina

    Mariana Laura Adami & Cristina Damborenea

  2. CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Cristina Damborenea

  3. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos (CREG), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Parque Tecnológico Florencio Varela, Av. Calchaqui km 23,500 (1888), Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Jorge Rafael Ronderos

  4. Cátedra Histol. Embriol. Animal (FCNyM-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina

    Jorge Rafael Ronderos

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  1. Mariana Laura Adami
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  2. Cristina Damborenea
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  3. Jorge Rafael Ronderos
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Correspondence to Jorge Rafael Ronderos.

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Communicated by T. Bartolomaeus.

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Adami, M.L., Damborenea, C. & Ronderos, J.R. An allatotropin-like neuropeptide in Mesostoma ehrenbergii (Rhabdocoela, Platyhelminthes). Zoomorphology 131, 1–9 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-012-0146-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-012-0146-3

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