Distribution of PACAP in the brain of the cartilaginous fish torpedo marmorata.
In this article, we investigated the distribution of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its mRNA by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and RT-PCR techniques, in the central nervous system of the elasmobranch Torpedo marmorata. RT-PCR analysis showed that the CNS of T. marmorata expresses a messenger encoding PACAP. The immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization patterns were partly overlapping, with a major expression in the hypothalamo-pituitary region and, surprisingly, in the saccus vasculosus. Our results show that, in T. marmorata, PACAP is synthesized and widely distributed in the CNS, suggesting an as yet unidentified role for this peptide in elasmobranch brain physiology.
Valiante
Saluatore
S
Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Evolutionary and Comparative Biology, University of Naples, Via Mezzocannone, 8, 80134 Naples, Italy. valiante@unina.it.
Prisco
Marina
M
Ricchiari
Loredana
L
Laforgia
Vincenza
V
Varano
Lorenzo
L
Andreuccetti
Piero
P
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014101:Torpedo / Q000235:genetics*
D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger