title: Distribution of PACAP-like immunoreactivity in the nervous system of oligochaeta.
abstract: The marked similarity between the primary structures of human, other vertebrate, and the invertebrate tunicate PACAP suggests that PACAP is one of the most highly conserved peptides during the phylogeny of the metazoans. We investigated the distribution of PACAP-like immunoreactivity in the nervous system of three oligochaete (Annelida) worms with immunocytochemistry. The distribution pattern of immunoreactivity was similar in all three species (Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia fetida, and Lumbricus polyphemus). The cerebral ganglion contains numerous immunoreactive cells and fibers. A few cells and fibers were found in the medial and lateral parts of the subesophageal and ventral cord ganglia. In the peripheral nervous system, immunoreactivity was found in the enteric nervous system, in epidermal sensory cells, and in the clitellum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70012, USA. dreglod@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reglödi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lengvari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szelier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vigh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000378:metabolism*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide