Abstract
Immunocytochemical characterization of the neuropeptides FMRF-amide and serotonin (5-HT) is a well-known method successfully applied to demonstrate nervous-system morphology in several platyhelminths (see Wikgren & Reuter, 1985, and Reuter, 1988, for review). We have immunolabeled wholemount preparations of Macrostomum hystricinum marinum Rieger from cultures (see Rieger et al., 1988) with anti-SALMF-amide, an antibody specific for the C-terminal pentapeptide sequence of the neuropeptide GNFSALMF-amide recently isolated from echinoderms (source M. Thorndyke, England). Immunoreactivity to SALMF-amide gave a more detailed picture of the nervous system of M. hystricinum than FMRF-amide. Conventional light microscopy (Luther, 1905) shows this nervous system to consist of a bilobed brain, a pharyngeal nerve-ring system, a posterior commissure, and two main ventrolateral nerve cords. Immunostaining reveals, in addition, two thin paired longitudinal nerve strands and fine subepithelial and submuscular nerve nets. Anti-SALMF-amide labels a distinct class of neurons, causing the main lateral longitudinal cords and pharyngeal nerve-ring system to appear more filamentous than with other techniques. Recent fine-structural investigations on the nervous sytem of Macrostomum hystricinum marinum revealed several axon types with characteristic vesicles and neurotubules (D. R. pers. obs.). Partly supported by FWF grant P7816.
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References
Luther, A., 1905. Zur Kenntnis der Gattung Macrostoma. Festschr. Palmen. (Helsingfors) 5: 1–61.
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© 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Reiter, D., Wikgren, M. (1991). Immunoreactivity to a specific echinoderm neuropeptide in the nervous system of the flatworm Macrostomum hystricinum marinum (Turbellaria, Macrostomida). In: Tyler, S. (eds) Turbellarian Biology. Developments in Hydrobiology 69, vol 69. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2775-2_33
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2775-2_33
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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