Presence of and stress-related changes in urocortin-like molecules in neurons and immune cells from the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.
The distribution of urocortin (UCN)-like material is investigated in the bivalve mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis. Immunocytochemical data demonstrate that UCN-like molecules are present in ganglionic neurons, microglial cells and immunocytes. Moreover, a co-localization of UCN- and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)-like molecules is found in microglial cells and in immunocytes, but not in neurons. Following high salinity-stress experiments, immunoreactivity for UCN and CRH increased in ganglionic neurons and immunocytes. Our findings extend the number of molecules potentially used by molluscan immunocytes to confront stress situations and strengthen the idea of functional conservation of stress-related molecules during evolution.
Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 213/D, 41100 Modena, Italy.
Davide
D
Malagoli
Ivano
I
Di Paolo
Enzo
E
Ottaviani
D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D005724:Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D049878:Mytilus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D054832:Urocortins
D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone