Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the cyprid of Amphibalanus amphitrite (Cirripedia, Crustacea).
The Amphibalanus amphitrite barnacle is a sessile marine crustacean and a major constituent of benthic as well as intertidal communities. A. amphitrite is also an important component of biofouling on artificial substrates. The role of nitric oxide (NO) was recently observed in the settlement of this species. In this work, we used immunohistochemical and histoenzymatic methods to investigate, for the first time, the presence and distribution of NO synthetic enzymes (NOS) in the competent-for-settlement cyprid of A. amphitrite. NOS-like immunoreactivity was observed in various regions of the cyprid: gut mucosa, mantel epithelium, thoracic muscle, and abductor muscles. Intense immunoreactivity was also present in the cement gland and oil cells, while widespread immunoreactivity was observed in the compound eye. NADPH-diaphorase method was used to provide further data and understand NOS-distribution. The results show that NOS is likely to be present in structures - such as muscles and cement gland - which are key for settlement.
DiSTAV, Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, I-16132 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: galluslorenzo@gmail.com.
Lorenzo
L
Gallus
Sara
S
Ferrando
Chiara
C
Gambardella
Marco
M
Faimali
Veronica
V
Piazza
Maria Angela
MA
Masini
D000818:Animals; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D001468:Thoracica / Q000201:enzymology*
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase
Barnacle cyprid, NADPH-diaphorase; Immunohistochemistry; Nitric oxide synthase