title: Immune system participates in brain regeneration and restoration of reproduction in the earthworm Dendrobaena veneta.
abstract: Earthworm decerebration causes temporary inhibition of reproduction which is mediated by certain brain-derived neurohormones; thus, cocoon production is an apposite supravital marker of neurosecretory center functional recovery during brain regeneration. The core aim of the present study was to investigate aspects of the interactions of nervous and immune systems during brain regeneration in adult Dendrobaena veneta (Annelida; Oligochaeta). Surgical brain extirpation was combined, either with (i) maintenance of immune-competent coelomic cells (coelomocytes) achieved by surgery on prilocaine-anesthetized worms or (ii) prior extrusion of fluid-suspended coelomocytes by electrostimulation. Both brain renewal and cocoon output recovery were significantly faster in earthworms with relatively undisturbed coelomocyte counts compared with individuals where coelomocyte counts had been experimentally depleted. These observations provide empirical evidence that coelomocytes and/or coelomocyte-derived factors (e.g. riboflavin) participate in brain regeneration and, by implication, that there is close functional synergy between earthworm neural and immune systems.
authors: Department of Comparative Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Pecs University, Hungary.
authors: Laszlo
authors: L
authors: Molnar
authors: Department of Comparative Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Pecs University, Hungary.
authors: Edit
authors: E
authors: Pollak
authors: Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors: Zuzanna
authors: Z
authors: Skopek
authors: Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Gutt
authors: Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Kruk
authors: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Main Building, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3US, Wales, UK.
authors: A John
authors: AJ
authors: Morgan
authors: Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: barbara.plytycz@uj.edu.pl.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Plytycz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000276:immunology*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction
keywords: Cerebral ganglia; Cocoon production; Coelomocytes; Earthworms; Immune-neuroendocrine interactions; Riboflavin