Atrial natriuretic peptide in the granular cells of the snail heart

Cardiomyocytes of vertebrates combine contractile and endocrine functions. They synthesize and secrete atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which is localized in their specific granules. The presence of ANP has been shown in some tissues of invertebrates, including the heart of molluscs. We have studied localization of ANP in cells of the snail heart. METHOD: The atrial and ventricular tissues of the snail Helix pomatia were studied by electron microscope immunocytochemistry, using anti-ANP antibodies. ANP-immunoreactivity has been detected in granules of granular cells located on the luminal surface of the snail myocardium. These cells are abundant in the atrium being very rare in the ventricle. Granular cells at different stages of maturation were revealed. Immature granular cells have light granules of moderate size with homogeneous tight content, while mature granular cells are huge in size and all their granules are fused together. The material of these granules loosens up and almost completely fills up the cytoplasm. No ANP-immunoreactivity was observed in muscle cells or nerve fibers. A possible origin of granular cells from the cardiac endothelial cells is discussed. The molluscan heart, similar to that of vertebrates, is a bifunctional organ. However, contrary to the heart of vertebrates, in the molluscan heart contractile and endocrine functions are separated between different types of cells.