title: Neuropeptides in the Australian lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri: effects in vivo and presence in autonomic nerves.
abstract: The Australian lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri is one of the few extant species of a phylogenetically ancient group. Immunohistochemistry showed the presence of galanin-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-, neurotensin-, substance P-, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivities in nerve fibers in the heart, lung, and gut, with a coexistence of VIP-, galanin-, and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the lung and galanin- and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the gut. About 20% of the substance P-immunoreactive fibers in gut and lung contained CGRP-like material. Major vessels showed a sparse innervation. In free-swimming unanesthetized fish, neurotensin (1 nmol/kg), galanin (1 nmol/kg), and bombesin (10 nmol/kg) reduced the heart rate. In two specimens tested, the effect of neurotensin was partially antagonized by atropine. Galanin and bombesin reduced and cholecystokinin 8 (CCK-8-S) increased blood flow to the lung. Neurotensin decreased, CCK-8-S increased, and substance P had no effect on dorsal aortic pressure, and all three decreased flow to the gut. It can be concluded from the present study that the general vertebrate pattern of cardiovascular and visceral nervous control by several neuropeptides is present also in Neoceratodus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoophysiology, University of Göteborg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holmgren
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fritsche
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karila
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gibbins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001315:Australia; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001839:Bombesin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D019004:Galanin; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012844:Sincalide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D013373:Substance P; D009496:Neurotensin; D001285:Atropine; D019004:Galanin; D012844:Sincalide; D001839:Bombesin