The peptidergic nervous system of the triclad turbellarian, Bdelloura candida (Maricola, Bdellouridae): an immunocytochemical study using an antiserum raised to an endogenous neuropeptide, GYIRFamide.
The organisation of the nervous system of Bdelloura candida (Tricladida, Maricola, and Bdellouridae) was studied by immunocytochemistry, by using an antiserum raised to the authentic B. candida FMRFamide-related peptide (FaRP), GYIRFamide. Immunostaining was intense and abundant throughout both the central and peripheral nervous systems, being localised to the brain, the longitudinal nerve cords and their transverse and lateral connections, the pharyngeal plexus, the extensive sub-epidermal and sub-muscular plexuses, and elements of the reproductive apparatus. Compared to an earlier anatomical investigation of this species, and also to the neuroanatomy of other triclad turbellarians, the pattern of GYIRFamide-immunoreactivity reveals differences in the following aspects: the shape and structure of the brain, the distribution of longitudinal nerve cords and their relationships with the peripheral nervous system, the structure and distribution of the lateral nerves and the transverse connectives between the longitudinal nerve cords, organisation of the pharyngeal nervous system, and innervation of the eyespots and epidermal sensory structures. Although this study focuses on a descriptive account of the neuroanatomy of Bdelloura candida, by using anti-GYIRFamide as a neuronal marker, the possible functions of the native peptide are also discussed. The quality and reproducibility of the immunostaining obtained during this work highlights the effectiveness of the GYIRFamide antiserum in the neuroanatomical study of flatworms, and also the suitability of B. candida as a model species in studies of the turbellarian nervous system.
Johnston
R N
RN
Comparative Neuroendocrinology Research Group, Schools of Clinical Medicine and Biology/Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Halton
D W
DW
Anderson
P A
PA
Johnston
C F
CF
Shaw
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009420:Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000294:innervation; D011817:Rabbits; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000294:innervation; D013045:Species Specificity; D014419:Turbellaria / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000276:immunology
D009479:Neuropeptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; C105067:glycyl-tyrosyl-isoleucyl-arginyl-phenylalaninamide