title: Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry of FMRFamide and neuropeptide F immunoreactivities in the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: The localisation and distribution of FMRF amide and neuropeptide F (NPF) immunoreactivities in the nervous system of adult male and female Schistosome mansoni have been determined by an indirect immunofluorescent technique in conjunction with confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). The patterns of immunostaining were similar for the two peptides. In the central nervous system (CNS) immunoreactivity was evident in nerve cells and fibres in the anterior ganglia, central commissure and three pairs of nerve cords. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), immunoreactivity was present in nerve plexuses associated with the pharynx, oral and ventral suckers, the subtegumental musculature and with both the gynaecophoric canal and in nerve fibres innervating the dorsal tubercles of the male. In the reproductive system of the male and female worms, immunostaining was only observed around the ootype/Mehlis' gland complex in the female. A post-embedding, IgG-conjugated colloidal gold immunostaining technique was employed to examine the subcellular distribution of FMRF amide immunoreactivity in the CNS of S. mansoni. Gold labelling of peptide was localised over dense-cored vesicles within nerve processes constituting the neuropile of the anterior ganglia. Blocking studies with homologous and heterologous peptides indicate that the immunostaining patterns are due to two distinct peptide molecules.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fairweather
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Skuce
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brownlee
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019835:FMRFamide; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C076101:neuropeptide F; D019835:FMRFamide