title: Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of "mammalian" neurohormonal peptides in neurones of the tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum.
abstract: In the nervous system of the obligatory endoparasite Diphyllobothrium dendriticum immunoreactivity (IR) to growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), bovine pancreatic polypeptide (BPP), gastrin, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), oxytocin, FMRFamide (FMRF) and serotonin (5HT) was demonstrated by immunocytochemical methods. A very strong GRF-IR was observed in the CNS and PNS of larvae and of the constantly growing adult worms. GRF-IR axon terminals occur beneath the basal lamina of the tegument along the inside of the bothridia, the holdfast organ of the worm. GRF-IR fibres surround the yolk producing vitelline glands and occur in the wall of the vagina. PHI-IR was observed in the CNS and PNS of larvae and adult worms. PHI-IR terminals occur beneath the basal lamina of the tegument along the strobila, the nutrient absorbing surface of the worm. PHI-IR fibres seem to innervate the testicular follicles. FMRF-IR fibres and perikarya occur close to the vitelline glands and the uterine pore and in the male copulatory organ. Numerous large 5HT-IR perikarya with long varicose fibres were observed in the nervous system of the worm. 5HT-IR perikarya occur close to the genital atrium. D. dendriticum is the phylogenetically lowest organism in which IR to PHI has been demonstrated.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sundler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004170:Diphyllobothrium / Q000032:analysis*; D019835:FMRFamide; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D007814:Larva / Q000032:analysis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000032:analysis*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000032:analysis; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000032:analysis; D010451:Peptide PHI; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010451:Peptide PHI; D010455:Peptides; D012701:Serotonin; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D019835:FMRFamide; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone