title: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone in mulberry cells of Saccoglossus and Ptychodera (Hemichordata: Enteropneusta).
abstract: Mulberry cells are epidermal gland cells bearing a long basal process resembling a neurite and are tentatively regarded as neurosecretory cells. They occur scattered through the ectoderm of the proboscis, collar, and anterior trunk regions of the acorn worms Saccoglossus, usually in association with concentrations of nervous tissue. They contain secretion granules that appear from electron micrographs to be released to the exterior. The granules are immunoreactive with antisera raised against mammalian and salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Similar results were obtained with another enteropneust, Ptychodera bahamensis, using antisera raised against tunicate-1 and mammalian GnRH. Mulberry cells were not found in either Cephalodiscus or Rhabdopleura (Hemichordata: Pterobranchia). Extracts of tissues from 4200 Saccoglossus contain an area of immunoreactive GnRH that is detected by an antiserum raised against lamprey GnRH when characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. This is the first report of the occurrence of GnRH in hemichordates, probably the most primitive group clearly belonging to the chordate lineage. The physiological function of GnRH in enteropneusts is unknown, but an exocrine function appears more likely than an endocrine or neurotransmitter role.
authors: Biology Department, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3N5, Canada.
authors: C B
authors: CB
authors: Cameron
authors: G O
authors: GO
authors: Mackie
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Powell
authors: D W
authors: DW
authors: Lescheid
authors: N M
authors: NM
authors: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002816:Chordata, Nonvertebrate / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone