title: The GABAergic-like system in the cyprid of Balanus amphitrite (=Amphibalanus amphitrite) (Cirripedia, Crustacea).
abstract: In the present study, biochemical and immunochemical methods were used to investigate the presence and distribution of GABA, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), GABA(B)R1 and GABA(A) gamma2 subunit receptors and the vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) in the cyprid of Balanus amphitrite (=Amphibalanus amphitrite). GAD(65/67) immunoreactive neuron cell bodies and nerve fibers were detected in the central nervous system. Paired GAD(65/67) immunoreactive nerves running from the posterior ganglion to the body and limb muscles were detected. Thin GABA-immunoreactive nerve terminals were present on striated muscular fibers and in the antennules. Furthermore, GABA, GAD(65/67), GABA(B)R1 and GABA(A)gamma2 subunit receptors and vGAT were observed in the lateral compound eyes, and GABA(A)gamma2 subunit receptor immunoreactivity was seen in the naupliar eye. These results suggest a neurotransmitter/neuromodulatory role for GABA in thoracic muscle contraction and regulatory functions in compound eyes and antennules of B. amphitrite cyprids.
authors.affiliation: LIBiOM, DIBIO, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 5, I-16132, Genova, Italy. gallus@unige.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallus
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaspro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Giambattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milanese
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramoino
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tagliafierro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000378:metabolism; D001468:Thoracica / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D050495:Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D050495:Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins; C493406:vesicular GABA transporter; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase