title: Acid-sensing ion channel immunoreactivities in the cephalic neuromasts of adult zebrafish.
abstract: The neuromasts are the morphofunctional unit of the lateral line system serving as mechanosensors for water flow and movement. The mechanisms underlying the detection of the mechanical stimuli in the vertebrate mechanosensory cells remain poorly understood at the molecular level, and no information is available on neuromasts. Mechanotransduction is the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into an electrical signal via activation of ion channels. The acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are presumably involved in mechanosensation, and therefore are expected to be expressed in the mechanoreceptors. Here we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the occurrence and distribution of ASICs in the cephalic neuromasts of the adult zebrafish. Specific immunoreactivity for ASIC1 and ASIC4 was detected in the hair cells while ASIC2 was restricted to the nerves supplying neuromasts. Moreover, supporting and mantle cells; i.e., the non-sensory cells of the neuromasts, also displayed ASIC4. For the first time, these results demonstrate the presence of the putative mechanoproteins ASIC1, ASIC2 and ASIC4 in neuromasts, suggesting a role for these ion channels in mechanosensation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madrigrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scopitteri
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology and Cellular Biology, University of Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy; Zebrafish Neuromorphology Lab, University of Messina, Italy. Electronic address: agermana@unime.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Germanà
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology and Cellular Biology, University of Oviedo, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laurà
mesh_terms: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D053403:Lateral Line System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels
keywords: Acid-sensing ion channels; Cephalic lateral line; Immunohistochemistry; Neuromasts; Zebrafish