title: Distribution and function of an Aplysia cardioexcitatory peptide, NdWFamide, in pulmonate snails.
abstract: The distribution and function of an Aplysia cardioexcitatory peptide, NdWFamide, were examined in the nervous system of pulmonate snails. We chemically identified the authentic NdWFamide from a land snail (Euhadra congenita) and a freshwater snail (Lymnaea stagnalis). NdWFamide potentiated the heartbeat of those snails. Immunohistochemistry using anti-NdWFamide antibody demonstrated the distribution of NdWFamide-containing neurons and fibers in the central nervous system, as well as peripheral tissues, such as the cardiovascular region and accessory sex organs. These results suggest that NdWFamide is a neuropeptide mediating the neural regulation of the activity of the cardiovascular and reproductive systems of snails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8526, Hiroshima, Japan. fumi425@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minakata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: A S M
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Saleuddin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012908:Snails / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides; C109335:asparaginyl-tryptophyl-phenylalaninamide