| Abstract: | In parallel with contraction, vertebrate cardiomyocytes perform endocrine function and produce natriuretic peptides (NP)--ANP and BNP--involved in cardiovascular homeostasis maintenance. ANP-like peptides have been reported also in hearts of some invertebrates, however, their cellular localization was not determined. By electron microscopical immunocytochemistry with polyclonal monospecific antibodies raised against ANP and protein A-gold technique, we have localized ANP-like immunoreactivity in granules within endothelial cells in the heart of the brachiopod Rhynchonella psittacea, the polychaete Arenicola marina, and the gastropod mollusc Achatina fulica--all being representatives of the major phylogenetic group Lophotrochozoa. ANP-like immunoreactivity was also revealed in one of 3 morphologically distinguishable types of granules in the snail heart granular cells. By electron microscopical autoradiography with the use of [3H]-thymidine, the ability for DNA synthesis was demonstrated in heart endothelial cells of the investigated animals. Forms of NP-system organization in hearts of Lophotrochozoa and Vertebrates, and close histogenetic relationships of endothelial and granular cells in the snail heart are discussed. |
