title: The action of serotonin and the nematode neuropeptide KSAYMRFamide on the pharyngeal muscle of the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum.
abstract: The pharyngeal component of the enteric nervous system of the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum exhibits immunoreactivity for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) and for FMRFamide-like peptides. This paper describes the application of an in vitro pharmacological approach to investigate the functional role of 5-HT and FMRFamide-like peptides. The pharyngeal pumping behaviour of Ascaris suum was monitored using a modified pressure transducer system which measures pharyngeal pressure changes and therefore pumping. The pharynx did not contract spontaneously; however, 5-HT (10-1000 microM) stimulated pumping at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. FMRFamide had no apparent effect on pharyngeal pumping. The native nematode FMRFamide-related peptide (FaRP), KSAYMRFamide inhibited the pumping elicited by 5-HT. The duration of inhibition was dose-dependent (0.1-1000 nM) with a threshold of 0.1 nM. In 4 preparations, the inhibition of the pharyngeal muscle was preceded by an initial excitation and increase in the amplitude of pharyngeal pressure changes. The pharynx is involved in various nematode processes, including feeding, regulation of hydrostatic pressure and excretion. The role of 5-HT and KSAYMRFamide in the pharyngeal function of nematodes is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brownlee
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holden-Dye
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fairweather
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017165:Ascaris suum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019835:FMRFamide; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C087068:KSAYMRFamide; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012701:Serotonin; D019835:FMRFamide