title: Neuropeptides in flatworms.
abstract: The use of well-characterized antibodies raised to neuronal signal substances and their application through immunocytochemistry and confocal scanning laser microscopy has revolutionized studies of the flatworm nervous system (NS). Data about flatworm neuropeptides and the spatial relationship between neuropeptides and other neuronal signal substances and muscle fibers are presented. Neuropeptides form a large part of the flatworm NS. Neuropeptides are especially important as myoexcitatory transmitters or modulators, controlling the musculature of the attachment organs, the stomatogastric and the reproductive systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Abo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, Finland. magustaf@abo.fi
authors.forename: M K S
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Halton
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kreshchenko
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Movsessian
authors.forename: O I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Raikova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Terenina
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D010986:Platyhelminths / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D012701:Serotonin; D000109:Acetylcholine