Pharmacological action of the heptapeptide GFSKLYFamide in the muscle of the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima (Echinodermata) |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Ecology Area, Dept. Applied Biology, Miguel Hernández University, Av. de la Universidad. Torreblanca, 03202 Elche, Spain;2. Department of Ecological Modeling, UFZ–Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, D-04301 Leipzig, Germany;3. Center for Population Biology, University of California Davis, 2320 Storer Hall. Davis CA, 95616 California, USA;4. Animal Demography and Ecology Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marquès 21, 07190 Esporles, Spain;5. Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Group, University of Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain;6. Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.;7. Department of Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Queens, Flushing, New York 11367, NY, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | The holothurian neuropeptide GFSKLYFamide (GlyPheSerLysLeuTyrPheNH2), GFSKLYFa, was characterized recently and shown to be present in nerve fibers that apparently innervate various muscle systems. We have studied the potential neurotransmitter role of this peptide by assaying its effects on the contractility of visceral and somatic muscles. GFSKLYFa in nanomolar concentrations induces a relaxation of the muscle tension in the intestine. A similar effect is observed on the longitudinal muscle bands of the body wall of the sea cucumber. The relaxing action of GFSKLYFa is dose dependent suggesting that its action is mediated by receptors present in the muscle cells. In addition, GFSKLYFa induces the relaxation of the acetylcholine contracted intestine. Our investigation provides additional evidence indicating that GFSKLYFa might be a neurotransmitter acting at the neuromuscular junctions of the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
