Immunoreactivity of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) Isoforms in the Central Nervous System of the Barn Spider,Araneus cavaticus

The γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) has long been considered as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) of both vertebrates and arthropods. Since the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has a restricted tissue distribution and catalyzes the conversion of L‐glutamate to GABA, immunoreactivity of GAD isoforms can reveal distribution of GABAergic neurons in the CNS. In the CNS of the spider Araneus cavaticus, immunoreactivity of GAD isoforms can be detected in the optic lobes including neurons and neuropiles of the supraesophageal ganglia. Strong GAD‐like immunoreactive cell bodies are concentrated in two bilaterally symmetric cell clusters of the protocerebrum. Some intrinsic cell bodies near the central body also show strong immunoreactivity. However, the intrinsic nerve masses and some of the longitudinal and transverse tracts within the supraesophageal ganglion are only lightly labelled, and the fibers transverse the hemisphere and the central fibrous masses are not labelled. Among the three basic types of cell bodies surrounding the central body, several clusters of the Type‐C cells show strong GAD‐like immunoreactivity, however both of the Type‐A and Type‐B cells are not labelled at all.     

Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodoidea: Ixodidae): Central and peripheral nervous system anatomy

TheHyalommadromedarii central nervous system, the synganglion, is an integrated nerve mass concentrated around the esophagus and formed by fusion of a small anterodorsal supraesophageal part an a large posteroventral subesophageal part. The supraesophageal part consists of the protocerebrum including a pair of optic ganglia, a pair of cheliceral ganglia, a pair of pedipalpal ganglia, and the stomodeal pons. The subesophageal part includes four paired pedal ganglia and the complex opisthosomatic ganglion. The peripheral nervous system includes the following pairs of nerves: optic, cheliceral, pedipalpal, primary and accessory (histologically traced); also unpaired pharyngeal and recurrent nerves, four pairs of pedal nerve trunks, each with a hemal branch, and two pairs of opisthosomatic nerves. Each peripheral nerve is traced distally to the innervation site. The salivary glands are innervated anteriorly by branches of the pedipalpal nerve and medially by branches of the hemal nerves associated with the third pedal nerves.Reprint request should be sent to: Medical Zoology Department, NAMRU-3, Fleet Post Office, New York 09527, U.S.A.     

Microstructural organization of the central nervous system in the harvestman Leiobunum japonicum (Arachnida: Opiliones)

Although the order Opiliones constitutes the third‐largest group of arachnids, this creature is still mysterious and has a rich unexplored field compared to what is known about insects and crustaceans. The order Opiliones is traditionally regarded as a close relative of mites, mainly because of morphological similarities in external body structure; however microstructural organization of the ganglionic neurons and nerves in the harvestman Leiobunum japonicum is quite similar to the central nervous system (CNS) in all extant arachnids. The CNS consists of a large neural cluster with paired appendicular nerves. The esophagus passes through the neural cluster and divides it into the upper supraesophageal ganglion (SpG) and the lower subesophageal ganglion (SbG). The dorsal part of the SpG has a quite condensed cell body compared with other parts of the CNS and has two main components, the protocerebrum and the cheliceral ganglion. The protocerebrum receives the optic nerves and has four main groups of neuropiles from the optic lobes, the superior central body, the lateral neuropils (corpora pedunculata) and the inferior neuropil. However, a pair of pedipalpal and four pairs of appendage nerves including several pairs of abdominal nerves arise from the nerve masses of the SbG.     

蟋蟀脑的解剖结构与生理机能

蟋蟀脑由前脑、中脑和后脑三部分组成。前脑由1对蕈形体、中央复合体和视叶构成;每个蕈形体由2个冠、柄及与柄相连的α叶和β叶组成,是信息联络整合部位;中央复合体由中央体和脑桥组成,主要参与感觉信息的加工过程;视叶由神经节层、外髓和内髓组成,是视觉系统的中心。中脑由主要组成成分为嗅觉纤维球的嗅叶组成,是嗅觉系统的中心。后脑向后与食道下神经节相连。     

The subgenus Persicargas (Ixodoidea: Argasidae: Argas): A. (P.) arboreus central nervous system anatomy and histology

The anatomy and histology of the adult Argas (Persicargas) arboreus central nervous system are described and compared with these properties in other ticks. The single, integrated, central nerve mass (CNM) is formed by a fused supra-esophageal part (protocerebrum, cheliceral ganglia, palpal ganglia, and stomodeal pons) and a subesophageal part (4 pairs of pedal ganglia and the complex opisthosomatic ganglion). Single peripheral nerves (pharyngeal and recurrent) and paired peripheral nerves (compound protocerebral, cheliceral, palpal, pedal and opisthosomatic) extend from the CNM to body organs and appendages. Optic nerves, described in other Argas species, are not found in A. (P.) arboreus. Histologically, the CNM is enclosed by a thin-walled periganglionic blood sinus and invested by a collagenous neural lamella followed by a perineurial layer composed of glial cells and containing fine reticular spaces, a cortical layer of association, motor and neurosecretory cell bodies and glial cells, and inner neuropile regions of fiber tracts forming 5 horizontal levels of connectives and commissures.     

Structural organization of the brain and subesophageal ganglion of male Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera : Culicidae)

The brain and subesophageal ganglion of male Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera : Culicidae) are described from cryofractures and silver-stained, semithin (0.5 μm) serial sections of whole heads observed in the scanning and light microscopes. The brain and subesophageal ganglion of male A. aegypti are fused. The major structures of the brain include the protocerebral lobes and bridge, the mushroom bodies, central complex of the protocerebrum, the mechanosensory regions and olfactory loves of the deutocerebrum, and the tritocerebrum. Major commissures of the brain are the anterior optic tract, central commissure, posterior dorsal commissure, and subesophageal commissure. The structural associations of brain components with each other and the subesophageal ganglion, as well as the paths of the major nerve tracts in male A. aegypti are described and compared with those in other Diptera.     

Anatomy of synganglia, including their neurosecretory regions, in unfed, virgin female Ixodes scapularis say (Acari: Ixodidae).

The central nervous system of Ixodes scapularis is fused into a single compact synganglion. The esophagus runs through the synganglion and divides it into supraesophageal and subesophageal parts. The supraesophageal portion contains a single protocerebrum with four pairs of glomeruli, paired optic lobes and cheliceral ganglia, and a single stomodeal bridge. The subesophageal portion contains a centrally located network of commissures and connectives, a pair of palpal ganglia, paired olfactory lobes of the first pedal ganglia, four pairs of pedal ganglia, and a single opisthosomal ganglion. A retrocerebral organ complex (ROC) in close vicinity of the digestive tract, as described in some other tick species, apparently is lacking. Perhaps the function of the ROC is performed by the paired, large, ganglion-like bodies that lie anterolaterad to the cheliceral ganglia. The rind, which is formed from the neuronal somata and glial cells, surrounds the central fibrous core or neuropile. Neurosecretory cells (NSC) are distinct among rind cells due to their large size and concentration of cytoplasmic neurosecretions. NSC are present throughout the synganglion, although the subesophageal portion contains larger groups of these cells. Histological serial sections, stained with Meola's (Trans Am Microsc Soc 89:66-71, '70) paraldehyde fuchsin (PAF) procedure revealed 24 PAF-stained, putative neurosecretory regions in the synganglion of virgin, unfed females. All of these regions appear to be connected and associated with the nearest ganglion and are correspondingly named. Eighteen PAF-positive regions occur in the synganglion. In addition, PAF-negative (green-stained) cells occupy 6 distinct regions in the synganglion of unfed, unmated females.     

Fine structure of the CNS ganglia in the geometric spider Nephila clavata (Araneae: Nephilidae)

As web spiders usually hang with their head downward, geometrical differences in body position could affect the organization of their central nervous system (CNS). Nevertheless, most of our knowledge of spider's CNS is dependent on what has been revealed from wandering spiders. To fill the gap, we describe here the fine structural organization of the ganglionic neurons and nerves in the geometric orb web spider Nephila clavata. Nerve cells in the supraesophageal ganglion in N. clavata are packed in the frontal, dorsal and lateral regions, but the nerve cells of the subesophageal mass are only restricted to the ventral and ventrolateral regions. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the fine structural details of the neuroglial cells and the neuronal cells which have a conspicuous Golgi apparatus, rough ER, free ribosomes and well‐developed mitochondria. Comparing fine structural characteristics of the CNS ganglia with those of wandering spiders in most respects, it has been revealed that the geometrical difference may affects to the arrangement of receptors in the central body known as an important association center for web building behavior. In particular, remarkable differences can be detected in the protocerebral area by the extraordinary development of the central body including absence of the globuli and associated mushroom bodies.     

Change of Activity of Locomotor Centers of the Locust Locusta migratoria under Effect of Increased Gravitation

The work studies effects of elevated gravitation on activity of locomotor centers in the locust Locusta migratoria L. Under effect of the increased gravity field the excitation of the motor centers that provide activity of the locus wing apparatus was shown to decrease. Analysis of the data obtained has allowed us concluding that the higher CNS centers (subesophageal ganglion) produce at least two types of excitatory (stimulatory) effects on segmental centers, one of the types affecting motor centers in the rest state, the other, in the active state. We believe that it is the impulses of the second type that are inhibited under effect of the increased radial acceleration on the organism. There is every reason to think that an important role in these processes is played by peculiar structures of the supraesophageal ganglion protocerebrum: mushroom bodies and the central complex that regulates activity of the locust segmental centers both directly and indirectly via the subesophageal ganglion.     

Distribution and characterization of Corazonin in the central nervous system of Triatoma infestans (Insecta: Heteroptera)

The distribution of corazonin in the central nervous system of the heteropteran insect Triatoma infestans was studied by immunohistochemistry. The presence of corazonin isoforms was investigated using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in samples containing the brain, the subesophageal ganglion, the corpora cardiaca-corpus allatum complex and the anterior part of the aorta. Several groups of immunopositive perikarya were detected in the brain, the subesophageal ganglion and the thoracic ganglia. Regarding the brain, three clusters were observed in the protocerebrum. One of these clusters was formed by somata located near the entrance of the ocellar nerves whose fibers supplied the aorta and the corpora cardiaca. The remaining groups of the protocerebrum were located in the lateral soma cortex and at the boundary of the protocerebrum with the optic lobe. The optic lobe housed immunoreactive somata in the medial soma layer of the lobula and at the level of the first optic chiasma. The neuropils of the deutocerebrum and the tritocerebrum were immunostained, but no immunoreactive perikarya were detected. In the subesophageal ganglion, immunostained somata were found in the soma layers of the mandibular and labial neuromeres, whereas in the mesothoracic ganglionic mass, they were observed in the mesothoracic, metathoracic and abdominal neuromeres. Immunostained neurites were also found in the esophageal wall. The distribution pattern of corazonin like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of this species suggests that corazonin may act as a neurohormone. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that [Arg⁷]-corazonin was the only isoform of the neuropeptide present in T. infestans tissue samples.     

Central projections of first-order ocellar interneurons in the bug Triatoma infestans (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

The projections of first-order ocellar interneurons were analyzed in the hematophagous bug Triatoma infestans by cobalt filling. The axons run between the calyces of the mushroom bodies and dorsal of the central body to different regions of the brain and the subesophageal and thoracic ganglia. The interneurons can be grouped into large L cells and small S cells. The L cells have cell bodies ranging from 11.5 to 25 μm and axons ranging from 8 to 25 μm diameter (measured in the ocellar nerve); the S cells have smaller cell bodies of 9 μm or less and axon diameters less than 5 μm. The projections of ten L cells are described in detail; they project to the protocerebral posterior slope (PS), the other ocellus (O), the optic neuropile, and the subesophageal, pro-, meso-, and metathoracic ganglia, either to ipsi- (PS I, II), or contra- (PS IV, V), or bilateral areas. In this case projections occur to the same areas (PSO, PS III) or different areas at each side (PSOE; E = eye). Large-descending (LD) first-order interneurons project to the contralateral posterior slope of the protocerebrum, the deutocerebrum, and subesophageal, pro-, mesa-, and metathoracic areas (LD I-III). Cell bodies are located in the dorsal protocerebral lobes and pars intercerebralis, except the PS II neuron and three LD cells, which are located in the ipsilateral posterior protocerebrum. This is the first report about ocellar pathways in Hemiptera. Their adaptive function is discussed with reference to the bugs' behavior as Chagas disease vectors. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Fine Structural Analysis of the Central Nervous System in the Spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum (Theridiidae: Araneae)

ABSTRACT Central nervous system (CNS) of arachnids is still mysterious and has a rich unexplored field compare to what is known in insects or crustaceans. The CNS of the spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum, consists of a dorsal brain or supraesophageal ganglion and circumesophageal connectives joining it to the subesophageal mass. As the segmentation of the arachnid brain is still under discussion, we classify the brain as a protocerebral and tritocerebral ganglion depending on the evidences which generally accepted. The subesophageal nerve mass underneath the brain is the foremost part of the ventral nerve cord. All of this nerve mass is totally fused together, and forming subesophageal ganglia in this spider. In the brain, the nerve cells are packed in the frontal, dorsal and lateral areas, but are not absent from the posterior and ventral regions. In addition, the nerve cells of the subesophageal and abdominal ganglia are only restricted to the ventral and ventolateral regions. The CNS of the spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum is similar in feature to the Family Araneidae.     

Neuroanatomy of the central nervous system of the wandering spider,Cupiennius salei (Arachnida,Araneida)

Summary In Cupiennius salei (Ctenidae), as in other spiders, the central nervous system is divided into the supraoesophageal ganglion or brain and the suboesophageal ganglia (Fig. 1). The two masses are interconnected by oesophageal connectives. The brain gives off four pairs of optic and one pair of cheliceral nerves. From the suboesophageal ganglia arise a pair of pedipalpal, four pairs of leg, and several pairs of opisthosomal nerves (Fig. 2). 1. Cell types. In the brain a total of 50900 cells were counted, in the suboesophageal ganglia 49000. They are all monopolar cells, found in the ganglion periphery and may be classified into four types: (a) Small globuli cells (nuclear diameter 6–7 m) forming a pair of compact masses in the protocerebrum (Fig. 10b); (b) Small and numerous cells (cell diameter 12–20 m) with processes forming the bulk of the neuropil in the brain and suboesophageal ganglia; (c) Neurosecretory cells (cell diameter ca. 45 m) in the brain and suboesophageal ganglia; (d) Large motor and interneurons (cell daimeter 40–112 m), mostly in the suboesophageal ganglia (Figs. 10a and c). 2. Suboesophageal mass. The cell bodies form a sheet of one to several cell layers on the ventral side of each ganglion and are arranged in groups. Three such groups were identified as motor neurons, four as interneurons. At the dorsal, dorso-lateral, and mid-central parts of the ganglion there are no cell somata. The fibre bundles arising from them form identifiable transverse commissural pathways (Fig. 9b). They form the fibrous mass in the central part of the suboesophageal mass.Neuropil is well-formed in association with the sensory terminations of all major nerves (Fig. 9a). As these proceed centrally they break up into five major sensory tracts forming five layers one above the other. There are six pairs of additional major longitudinal tracts arranged at different levels dorsoventrally (Fig. 8). They ascend into the brain through the oesophageal connectives and terminate mostly in the mushroom bodies and partly in the central body. 3. Protocerebrum. Fine processes of the globuli cells form the most important neuropil mass in the fibrous core, called the mushroom bodies. These consist of well developed glomeruli, hafts, and bridge which are interconnected with the optic masses of the lateral eyes and most fibre tracts from the brain and suboesophageal mass (Fig. 7). The median eye nerves form a small optic lamella and optic ganglia, connected to the central body through an optic tract. Each posterior median and posterior lateral eye nerve ends in large optic lamellae (Fig. 13a). These are connected through chiasmata to a large optic mass where fibres from globuli cells form conspicuous glomeruli. There are 10–12 large fibres (diameter 9 m) of unknown origin on each side, terminating in the optic lambella of the posterior lateral eye.The central body, another neuropil mass (Fig. 13b) in the protocerebrum, is well developed in Cupiennius and located transversely in its postero-dorsal region (Fig. 10d). It consists of two layers and is interconnected with optic masses of the median and lateral eyes through optic tracts. Fibre tracts from the brain and suboesophageal mass join the central body.     

Immunocytochemical localization of GAD isoforms in the CNS ganglia of the cobweb spider,Achaearanea tepidariorum

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is an enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of glutamate to γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and CO₂. It has been discovered that the GAD has a restricted tissue distribution and it is highly expressed in the cytoplasm of GABAergic neurons in the CNS where GABA is used as a neurotransmitter. We have examined the microstructure of ganglionic neurons and nerves arising from the CNS and describe here the immunocytochemical localization of GAD isoforms to reveal the ecophysiological significance of GABA for the web‐building spider's behavior. In the CNS of the cobweb spider, Achaearanea tepidariorum, immunocytochemical localization of GAD isoforms can be detected in the neurons and neuropiles of the optic lobes. In addition, GAD‐like immunoreactive cell bodies are observed at the intrinsic cell bodies near the central body and the symmetric cell clusters of the protocerebrum. However, the fibrous masses within the protocerebral ganglion are not labeled at all. Based on its interconnection with other regions of the CNS, our findings suggest that the central body in the web‐building spider may act as an association center as well as a visual center.     

Monoamine-containing neurons and their projections in the brain (supraoesophageal ganglion) of cockroaches

Fluorogenic monoamines were studied in the brain of three cockroach species by use of aldehyde-fluorescence techniques. All three optic ganglia contain fluorogenic monoamines. The lamina contains fibres with an indolylalkylamine-fluorophore. The medulla is innervated by local CA neurons which contribute to four fluorescent strata. The lobula receives both CA- and 5-HT-fibres, predominantly of central origin. CA occur in almost all areas of the brain. The areas are interconnected by a CA-fibre system. All parts of the mushroom body are innervated by CA-fibres from the surrounding neuropil. The CA innervation in the mushroom body divides it into a fronto-ventral part (alpha-lobe, beta-lobe, anterio-ventral peduncle) and a dorso-caudal part (caudo-dorsal peduncle, calices) leaving a fluorescence-free central part of the peduncle in between. CA-fibres run between the mushroom bodies of both hemispheres and also between the mushroom body and the lobula. The central body complex contains CA. The pons aggregates indolylalkylamine-containing fibres. The olfactory glomeruli are surrounded by CA-fibres originating from deutocerebral cell bodies. CA-fibres are further linked to the protocerebral neuropil. CA-fibre tracts pass from the brain to the suboesophageal ganglion and the stomatogastric nervous system. The cell bodies of the frontal ganglion are of indolylalkylamine type. Non-fluorescent neuropils (n. ocellaris, tractus olfactorio-globularis, lobus glomerulatus) are innervated by the CA-fibre system.     

FMRFamide-like immunocytochemistry in the brain and subesophageal ganglion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triatoma infestans</Emphasis> (Insecta: Heteroptera). Coexpression with β-pigment-dispersing hormone and small cardioactive peptide B

The distribution of FMRFamide (FMRFa)-like immunoreactivity (LI) was studied in the brain and subesophageal ganglion of Triatoma infestans, the insect vector of Chagas disease. The neuropeptide displayed a widespread distribution with immunostained somata in the optic lobe, in the anterior, lateral, and posterior soma rinds of the protocerebrum, and around the antennal sensory and mechanosensory and motor neuropils of the deutocerebrum. FMRFa-immunoreactive profiles of the subesophageal ganglion were seen in the mandibular, maxillary, and labial neuromeres. Immunostained neurites were detected in the medulla and lobula of the optic lobe, the lateral protocerebral neuropil, the median bundle, the calyces and the stalk of the mushroom bodies, and the central body. In the deutocerebrum, the sensory glomeruli showed a higher density of immunoreactive processes than the mechanosensory and motor neuropil, whereas the neuropils of each neuromere of the subesophageal ganglion displayed a moderate density of immunoreactive neurites. Colocalization of FMRFa-LI and crustacean pigment-dispersing hormone-LI was found in perikarya of the proximal optic lobe, the lobula, the sensory deutocerebrum, and the labial neuromere of the subesophageal ganglion. The distribution pattern of small cardioactive peptide B (SCP_B)-LI was also widespread, with immunolabeled somata surrounding every neuropil region of the brain and subesophageal ganglion, except for the optic lobe. FMRFa- and SCP_B-LIs showed extensive colocalization in the brain of this triatomine species. The presence of immunolabeled perikarya displaying either FMRFa- or SCP_B-LI confirmed that each antisera identified different peptide molecules. The distribution of FMRFa immunostaining in T. infestans raises the possibility that FMRFa plays a role in the regulation of circadian rhythmicity. The finding of immunolabeling in neurosecretory somata of the protocerebrum suggests that this neuropeptide may also act as a neurohormone.This work was sponsored by the Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral. Part of this work was performed at the Division of Neurobiology, Arizona Research Laboratories (Tucson, Arizona) with the support of a Fulbright Research Award to B.P.S.     

Aminergic neurons in the brain of blowflies and Drosophila: dopamine- and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons and their relationship with putative histaminergic neurons

Summary The distribution and morphology of neurons reacting with antisera against dopamine (DA), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and histamine (HA) were analyzed in the blowflies Calliphora erythrocephala and Phormia terraenovae. TH-immunoreactive (THIR) and HA-immunoreactive (HAIR) neurons were also mapped in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. The antisera against DA and TH specifically labeled the same neurons in the blowflies. About 300 neurons displayed DA immunoreactivity (DAIR) and THIR in the brain and subesophageal ganglion of the blowflies. Most of these neurons were located in bilateral clusters; some were distributed as bilateral pairs, and two ventral unpaired median (VUM) neurons were seen in the subesophageal ganglion. Immunoreactive processes were found in all compartments of the mushroom bodies except the calyces, in all divisions of the central body complex, in the medulla, lobula and lobula plate of the optic lobe, and in non-glomerular neuropil of protocerebrum, tritocerebrum and the subesophageal ganglion. No DA or TH immunoreactivity was seen in the antennal lobes. In Drosophila, neurons homologous to the blowfly neurons were detected with the TH antiserum. In Phormia and Drosophila, 18 HA-immunoreactive neurons were located in the protocerebrum and 2 in the subesophageal ganglion. The HAIR neurons arborized extensively, but except for processes in the lobula, all HAIR processes were seen in non-glomerular neuropil. The deuto- and tritocerebrum was devoid of HAIR processes. Double labeling experiments demonstrated that TH and HA immunoreactivity was not colocalized in any neuron. In some regions there wasm however, substantial superposition between the two systems. The morphology of the extensively arborizing aminergic neurons described suggests that they have modulatory functions in the brain and subesophageal ganglion.     

Pyrokinin/PBAN-like peptides in the central nervous system of mosquitoes

The pyrokinin/pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) family of peptides is characterized by a common C-terminal pentapeptide, FXPRLamide, which is required for diverse physiological functions in various insects. Polyclonal antisera against the C-terminus was utilized to determine the location of cell bodies and axons in the central nervous systems of larval and adult mosquitoes. Immunoreactive material was detected in three groups of neurons in the subesophageal ganglion of larvae and adults. The corpora cardiaca of both larvae and adults contained immunoreactivity indicating potential release into circulation. The adult and larval brains had at least one pair of immunoreactive neurons in the protocerebrum with the adult brain having additional immunoreactive neurons in the dorsal medial part of the protocerebrum. The ventral ganglia of both larvae and adults each contained one pair of neurons that sent their axons to a perisympathetic organ associated with each abdominal ganglion. These results indicate that the mosquito nervous system contains pyrokinin/PBAN-like peptides and that these peptides could be released into the hemolymph. The peptides in insects and mosquitoes are produced by two genes, capa and pk/pban. Utilizing PCR protocols, we demonstrate that products of the capa gene could be produced in the abdominal ventral ganglia and the products of the pk/pban gene could be produced in the subesophageal ganglion. Two receptors for pyrokinin peptides were differentially localized to various tissues.     

DPKQDFMRFamide expression is similar in two distantly related Drosophila species

Drosophila melanogaster DPKQDFMRFamide was isolated and its expression reported. Distribution of DPKQDFMRFamide immunoreactivity is now described in Drosophila virilis. DPKQDFMRFamide antibody stained a cell in the subesophageal ganglion in embryo. DPKQDFMRFamide antibody stained cells in the superior protocerebrum, subesophageal ganglion, thoracic ganglia, and an abdominal ganglion in larva, pupa, and adult. DPKQDFMRFamide antibody stained an additional pair of cells in the optic lobe and a cell in the lateral protocerebrum in adult. Structure identity and similar distribution of DPKQDFMRFamide in D. virilis and D. melanogaster, two distantly related Drosophila species, suggests an important and conserved activity for the peptide.     

Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system and midgut of the migratory locust. Comparisons with gastrin-cholecystokinin-like and octopamine-like immunoreactivity

A tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TrpRS)-immunoreactivity is localized in various neurosecretory cells of all ganglia of the central nervous system of the Orthoptera Locusta migratoria, except in deutocerebrum, and in endocrine cells of the midgut. It has been observed that TrpRS-like material never co-localizes either with CCK-like or octopamine-like material. TrpRS immunoreactive perikarya and processes that ramify extensively throughout the neuropiles have been detected in the protocerebrum, optic lobes, tritocerebrum, suboesophageal, thoracic and abdominal ganglia. In the lateral protocerebrum, a particular TrpRS pathway different from the lateral gastrin cholecystokinin (CCK-8(s] pathway is revealed, certain of these processes terminating in the glandular part of the corpora cardiaca. In the metathoracic ganglion, have been observed numerous immunoreactive cell bodies and processes in the neuropiles. Some of them constitute a major pathway and which are distinct from octopamine (OA) cells but in close vicinity with the latter. In the midgut immunopositive TrpRS-like cells are dispersed among the regenerative and digestive cells of the epithelium; they are different from gastrin-cholecystokinin positive cells. The various TrpRS-like immunoreactivities identified in Locusta indicate that TrpRS-like material may occur in different tissues of organisms other than Vertebrates. These results suggest also that TrpRS-like enzyme could be involved in functions other than aminoacylation, as in Vertebrates.