Substance P-like immunoreactivity in the nervous system of hydra

Regionalized nervous system in Hydra and the mechanism of its development

The last common ancestor of Bilateria and Cnidaria is considered to develop a nervous system over 500 million years ago. Despite the long course of evolution, many of the neuron-related genes, which are active in Bilateria, are also found in the cnidarian Hydra. Thus, Hydra is a good model to study the putative primitive nervous system in the last common ancestor that had the great potential to evolve to a more advanced one. Regionalization of the nervous system is one of the advanced features of bilaterian nervous system. Although a regionalized nervous system is already known to be present in Hydra, its developmental mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study we show how it is formed and maintained, focusing on the neuropeptide Hym-176 gene and its paralogs. First, we demonstrate that four axially localized neuron subsets that express different combination of the neuropeptide Hym-176 gene and its paralogs cover almost an entire body, forming a regionalized nervous system in Hydra. Second, we show that positional information governed by the Wnt signaling pathway plays a key role in determining the regional specificity of the neuron subsets as is the case in bilaterians. Finally, we demonstrated two basic mechanisms, regionally restricted new differentiation and phenotypic conversion, both of which are in part conserved in bilaterians, are involved in maintaining boundaries between the neuron subsets. Therefore, this study is the first comprehensive analysis of the anatomy and developmental regulation of the divergently evolved and axially regionalized peptidergic nervous system in Hydra, implicating an ancestral origin of neural regionalization.

A secreted antibacterial neuropeptide shapes the microbiome of Hydra

Colonization of body epithelial surfaces with a highly specific microbial community is a fundamental feature of all animals, yet the underlying mechanisms by which these communities are selected and maintained are not well understood. Here, we show that sensory and ganglion neurons in the ectodermal epithelium of the model organism hydra (a member of the animal phylum Cnidaria) secrete neuropeptides with antibacterial activity that may shape the microbiome on the body surface. In particular, a specific neuropeptide, which we call NDA-1, contributes to the reduction of Gram-positive bacteria during early development and thus to a spatial distribution of the main colonizer, the Gram-negative Curvibacter sp., along the body axis. Our findings warrant further research to test whether neuropeptides secreted by nerve cells contribute to the spatial structure of microbial communities in other organisms.

Certain neuropeptides, in addition to their neuromodulatory functions, display antibacterial activities of unclear significance. Here, the authors show that a secreted neuropeptide modulates the distribution of bacterial communities on the body surface during development of the model organism Hydra.

Peptide-gated ion channels and the simple nervous system of Hydra

Neurons either use electrical or chemical synapses to communicate with each other. Transmitters at chemical synapses are either small molecules or neuropeptides. After binding to their receptors, transmitters elicit postsynaptic potentials, which can either be fast and transient or slow and longer lasting, depending on the type of receptor. Fast transient potentials are mediated by ionotropic receptors and slow long-lasting potentials by metabotropic receptors. Transmitters and receptors are well studied for animals with a complex nervous system such as vertebrates and insects, but much less is known for animals with a simple nervous system like Cnidaria. As cnidarians arose early in animal evolution, nervous systems might have first evolved within this group and the study of neurotransmission in cnidarians might reveal an ancient mechanism of neuronal communication. The simple nervous system of the cnidarian Hydra extensively uses neuropeptides and, recently, we cloned and functionally characterized an ion channel that is directly activated by neuropeptides of the Hydra nervous system. These results demonstrate the existence of peptide-gated ion channels in Hydra, suggesting they mediate fast transmission in its nervous system. As related channels are also present in the genomes of the cnidarian Nematostella, of placozoans and of ctenophores, it should be considered that the early nervous systems of cnidarians and ctenophores have co-opted neuropeptides for fast transmission at chemical synapses.

Chemical transmission in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis: A genomic perspective

The sequencing of the starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis) genome provides opportunities to investigate the function and evolution of genes associated with chemical neurotransmission and hormonal signaling. This is of particular interest because sea anemones are anthozoans, the phylogenetically basal cnidarians least changed from the common ancestors of cnidarians and bilaterian animals, and because cnidarians are considered the most basal metazoans possessing a nervous system. This analysis of the genome has yielded 20 orthologues of enzymes and nicotinic receptors associated with cholinergic function, an even larger number of genes encoding enzymes, receptors and transporters for glutamatergic (28) and GABAergic (34) transmission, and two orthologues of purinergic receptors. Numerous genes encoding enzymes (14), receptors (60) and transporters (5) for aminergic transmission were identified, along with four adenosine-like receptors and one nitric oxide synthase. Diverse neuropeptide and hormone families are also represented, mostly with genes encoding prepropeptides and receptors related to varying closeness to RFamide (17) and tachykinin (14), but also galanin (8), gonadotropin-releasing hormones and vasopressin/oxytocin (5), melanocortins (11), insulin-like peptides (5), glycoprotein hormones (7), and uniquely cnidarian peptide families (44). Surprisingly, no muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were identified and a large number of melatonin-related, but not serotonin, orthologues were found. Phylogenetic tree construction and inspection of multiple sequence alignments reveal how evolutionarily and functionally distant chemical transmitter-related proteins are from those of higher metazoans.

Cnidarian chemical neurotransmission, an updated overview

The ultrastructural, histochemical, immunocytochemical, biochemical, molecular, behavioral and physiological evidence for non-peptidergic and peptidergic chemical neurotransmission in the Anthozoa, Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa and Cubozoa is surveyed. With the possible exception of data for the catecholamines and peptides in some animals, the set of cumulative data - the evidence from all methodologies - is incomplete. Taken together, the evidence from all experimental approaches suggests that both classical fast (acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA, glycine) and slow (catecholamines and serotonin) transmitters, as well as neuropeptides, are involved in cnidarian neurotransmission. Ultrastructural evidence for peptidergic, serotonergic, and catecholaminergic synaptic localization is available, but the presence of clear and dense-cored synaptic vesicles also suggests both fast and slow classical transmission. Immunocytochemical studies, in general, reveal a continuous, non-localized distribution of neuropeptides, suggesting a neuromodulatory role for them. Immunocytochemical and biochemical studies indicate the presence of glutamate, GABA, serotonin, catecholamines (and/or their receptors), RFamides, nitric oxide and eicosanoids in cnidarian neurons and tissues. Gene sequences for peptidergic preprohormones have been reported; putative gene homologies to receptor proteins for vertebrate transmitters have been found in Hydra. Behavioral and physiological studies implicate classical transmitters, neuropeptides, eicosanoids and nitric oxide in the coordination of the neuroeffector systems.

Involvement of Hydra achaete-scute gene CnASH in the differentiation pathway of sensory neurons in the tentacles

The proneural genes of achaete-scute (ac-sc) family that encodes the bHLH class transcription factors play a variety of roles in neurogenesis. In Hydra, the ac-sc homologue CnASH is involved in nematocyte differentiation. In the present study, we found that sensory neurons in the tentacles expressed CnASH, in addition to differentiating nematocytes in the body column of Hydra. Neuron precursors that migrated to the tentacle base did not express CnASH, and it took 1 day for them to become CnASH-expressing neurons. Thus, the CnASH-positive cells at the tentacle base appeared to be sensory cells at early stages of differentiation. Furthermore, the CnASH-positive neurons distributed from the base to the tip of tentacles suggest that the gene is also involved in maintenance of the differentiated state. In addition, we found that the sensory neurons in the tentacles consist of at least two subpopulations. The comparison of the CnASH expression with Nv1 expression in sensory cells that is detected by monoclonal antibody Nv1 showed that at least Nv1-positive/ CnASH-positive and Nv1-negative/ CnASH-positive sensory neurons existed in the tentacles.

Neuropeptides in cnidarians

Cnidarians are the lowest animal group having a nervous system. In the primitive nervous systems of cnidarians, peptides play important roles as neurotransmitters or neurohormones. So far, we have isolated and sequenced about 35 neuropeptides from different cnidarian classes (Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Anthozoa). All these neuropeptides have a C-terminal amide group, which protects against C-terminal degradation, but which also is important for receptor recognition. Also the N-termini of the cnidarian neuropeptides often contain different kinds of protecting groups (such as <Glu residues, L-3-phenyllactyl groups, and X-Pro or X-Pro-Pro sequences). Cnidarian neuropeptides are located in neuronal dense-core vesicles and are synthesized as preprohormones, which can contain up to 41 copies of a neuro peptide sequence. From Hydra, six different neuropeptide genes have been cloned so far. Each gene is expressed by a specific population of neurons, but in two instances coexpression of neuropeptide genes has been found. We have also cloned some of the cnidarian prohormone processing enzymes, among them the enzymes necessary for C-terminal amidation. These enzymes are closely related to their mammalian counterparts. All these data show that the primitive nervous systems of cnidarians have already acquired some of the sophisticated principles that we know from higher animals.

Tachykinin-related peptides in invertebrates: a review

Peptides with sequence similarities to members of the tachykinin family have been identified in a number of invertebrates belonging to the mollusca, echiuridea, insecta and crustacea. These peptides have been designated tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) and are characterized by the preserved C-terminal pentapeptide FX1GX2Ramide (X1 and X2 are variable residues). All invertebrate TRPs are myostimulatory on insect hindgut muscle, but also have a variety of additional actions: they can induce contractions in cockroach foregut and oviduct and in moth heart muscle, trigger a motor rhythm in the crab stomatogastric ganglion, depolarize or hyperpolarize identified interneurons of locust and the snail Helix and induce release of adipokinetic hormone from the locust corpora cardiaca. Two putative TRP receptors have been cloned from Drosophila; both are G-protein coupled and expressed in the nervous system. The invertebrate TRPs are distributed in interneurons of the CNS of Limulus, crustaceans and insects. In the latter two groups TRPs are also present in the stomatogastric nervous system and in insects endocrine cells of the midgut display TRP-immunoreactivity. In arthropods the distribution of TRPs in neuronal processes of the brain displays similar patterns. Also in coelenterates, flatworms and molluscs TRPs have been demonstrated in neurons. The activity of different TRPs has been explored in several assays and it appears that an amidated C-terminal hexapeptide (or longer) is required for bioactivity. In many invertebrate assays the first generation substance P antagonist spantide I is a potent antagonist of invertebrate TRPs and substance P. Locustatachykinins stimulate adenylate cyclase in locust interneurons and glandular cells of the corpora cardiaca, but in other tissues the putative second messenger systems have not yet been identified. The heterologously expressed Drosophila TRP receptors coupled to the phospholipase C pathway and could induce elevations of inositol triphosphate. The structures, distributions and actions of TRPs in various invertebrates are compared and it is concluded that the TRPs are multifunctional peptides with targets both in the central and peripheral nervous system and other tissues, similar to vertebrate tachykinins. Invertebrate TRPs may also be involved in developmental processes.

Primitivism and plasticity of pain--implication of polymodal receptors

Bio-warning and defense mechanisms play the most fundamental roles in living organisms. From an evolutionary point of view, nociceptive systems are very primitive and are richly provided with humoral signaling mechanisms of aboriginal humoral defense systems, as reflected in the primitive nature of the polymodal receptor, a poorly differentiated sensory receptor signaling nociceptive information. Recent advances in studies on pain have made it possible to explain neural mechanisms of pain systems under physiological conditions and reveal that there is a large gap between physiological and pathological pains. Protracted nociceptive inputs under pathological conditions induce plastic, either functional or structural, alterations in the nociceptive pathways. These plastic changes lead to crosstalk among the neural networks, including circuits related to motor, autonomic, or psychological functions. These plastic changes, once established, persist even after the original pain sources disappear in a memory-like fashion. Thus, it is revealed that chronic pain cannot be treated by blocking pain pathways, which is effective against acute pain, but require treatment from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Structure, development, and maintenance of the nerve net of the body column in Hydra

The anatomy and developmental dynamics of the nerve net in the body column of Hydra viridissima were examined immunocytochemically with a monoclonal antibody (CC04) that recognizes an antigen in nerve cells and with an antiserum against vasopressin. CC04+ neuron cell bodies, their neurites, and vasopressin-like-immunoreactive (VLI+) neurites could be clearly visualized on whole-mount preparations. All neurites of the CC04+ neurons in the body column were VLI+. However, only half of the VLI+ neurites in the body column were CC04+. Immunocytochemical analysis of macerated preparations showed that half of the neurons in the gastric region of the body column were CC04+. These results suggest that most of the neurons in the gastric region are VLI+. The density of the VLI+ neurites was uniform along the entire length of the body column. The CC04+ neuron density in the gastric region remained constant at all stages of asexual development and during foot regeneration. After pulse-labeling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), CC04+ neurons with labeled nuclei appeared in the body column. We conclude that neuron density in the gastric region is maintained at a constant value by insertion of new neurons in parallel with continuous epithelial cell division.

Sialokinin I and II: vasodilatory tachykinins from the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

The saliva of the mosquito Aedes aegypti has previously been reported to contain a 1400-Da peptide with pharmacological properties typical of a tachykinin. In the present study this vasodilator has been purified to homogeneity and found to consist of two peptides: sialokinin I, with the sequence Asn-Thr-Gly-Asp-Lys-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2, and sialokinin II, identical to sialokinin I except for an Asp in position 1. These peptides are present in amounts of 0.62 and 0.16 pmol (711 and 178 ng), respectively, per salivary gland pair. When assayed on the guinea pig ileum, both peptides are as active as the mammalian tachykinin substance P, with K0.5 values of 5.07, 6.58, and 4.94 nM for sialokinin I, sialokinin II, and substance P, respectively.

The myotropic peptides of Locusta migratoria: structures, distribution, functions and receptors

The search for myotropic peptide molecules in the brain, corpora cardiaca, corpora allata suboesophageal ganglion complex of Locusta migratoria using a heterologous bioassay (the isolated hindgut of the cockroach, Leucophaea maderae) has been very rewarding. It has lead to the discovery of 21 novel biologically active neuropeptides. Six of the identified Locusta peptides show sequence homologies to vertebrate neuropeptides, such as gastrin/cholecystokinin and tachykinins. Some peptides, especially the ones belonging to the FXPRL amide family display pleiotropic effects. Many more myotropic peptides remain to be isolated and sequenced. Locusta migratoria has G-protein coupled receptors, which show homology to known mammalian receptors for amine and peptide neurotransmitters and/or hormones. Myotropic peptides are a diverse and widely distributed group of regulatory molecules in the animal kingdom. They are found in neuroendocrine systems of all animal groups investigated and can be recognized as important neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the animal nervous system. Insects seem to make use of a large variety of peptides as neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in the central nervous system, in addition to the aminergic neurotransmitters. Furthermore quite a few of the myotropic peptides seem to have a function in peripheral neuromuscular synapses. The era in which insects were considered to be "lower animals" with a simple neuroendocrine system is definitely over. Neural tissues of insects contain a large number of biologically active peptides and these peptides may provide the specificity and complexity of intercellular communications in the nervous system.

Immunochemical characterisation of tachykinin immunoreactivity in the nervous system of the garden snail, Helix aspersa

1. Circumoesophageal ganglia and foot muscle of the garden snail, Helix aspersa, were subjected to immunocytochemistry using antisera to the tachykinins, substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), kassinin (KAS) and eledoisin (ELE). 2. Immunoreactivity in neuronal somata and fibres was detected only with the SP antiserum. 3. SP and NKA radioimmunoassays were performed on extracts of circumoesophageal ganglia. In common with immunocytochemistry, immunoreactivity was only detected with the SP antiserum. 4. Gel permeation chromatography of extracts resolved a single peak of immunoreactivity eluting slightly later than synthetic mammalian SP. Reverse-phase HPLC of immunoreactive fractions resolved two immunoreactive peptides representing oxidised and reduced forms of a single peptide. 5. These data suggest that the nervous system of H. aspersa contains a single tachykinin with C-terminal structural characteristics similar to mammalian SP.

Locustatachykinin III and IV: two additional insect neuropeptides with homology to peptides of the vertebrate tachykinin family

Two myotropic peptides termed locustatachykinin III and IV were isolated from 9000 brain-corpora cardiaca-corpora allata-suboesophageal ganglion extracts of the locust, Locusta migratoria. The primary structures of Lom-TK III and IV were established as amidated decapeptides: Ala-Pro-Gln-Ala-Gly-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Val-Arg-NH2 (Lom-TK III) and Ala-Pro-Ser-Leu-Gly-Phe-His-Gly-Val-Arg-NH2 (Lom-TK IV). The locustatachykinins were synthesized and shown to have chromatographic and biological properties identical with those of the native materials. They stimulate visceral muscle contractions of the oviduct and the foregut of Locusta migratoria and of the hindgut of Leucophaea maderae. Both peptides exhibit sequence homologies with the vertebrate tachykinins. Sequence similarity is greater with the fish and amphibian tachykinins (up to 40%) than with the mammalian tachykinins. In addition, the intestinal and oviducal myotropic activity of the locustatachykinins is analogous to that of vertebrate tachykinins. Both chemical and biological similarities of vertebrate and insect tachykinins substantiates the evidence for a long evolutionary history of the tachykinin peptide family.

Substance P-, FMRFamide-, and gastrin/cholecystokinin-like immunoreactive neurons in the thoraco-abdominal ganglia of the flies Drosophila and Calliphora

Immunocytochemical analysis of the thoraco-abdominal ganglia of the flies Drosophila melanogaster and Calliphora vomitoria revealed neurons displaying substance P- (SPLI), FMRFamide-(FLI), and cholecystokinin-like (CCKLI) immunoreactivity. It could be demonstrated that a number of neurons contain peptides reacting with antisera against all the three types of substances, others were either FLI or CCKLI alone. No neurons displayed only SPLI. Instead, the total number (about 30) of SPLI neurons constitute a subpopulation of the FLI/CCKLI neurons. Many of the identifiable immunoreactive neurons seem to be homologous in the two fly species. One set of six large neurons, termed ventral thoracic neurosecretory neurons (VTNCs), are among those that are SPLI, FLI, and CCKLI in both Drosophila and Calliphora. With the present immunocytochemical technique, the detailed morphology of the VTNCs could be resolved. These neurosecretory neurons supply the entire dorsal neural sheath of the thoraco-abdominal ganglia with terminals, thus forming an extensive neurohaemal area. The VTNCs also have processes connecting the thoracic neuromeres to the cephalic suboesophageal ganglion, as well as extensive arborizations in the thoracic ganglia, suggesting an important role in integrating and/or regulating large portions of the central nervous system, in addition to their neurosecretory function. Most of the other SPLI, FLI, and CCKLI neurons in the thoraco-abdominal ganglia seem to be interneurons. However, there are four FLI neurons that appear to be efferents innervating the hindgut and a few abdominal FLI and CCKLI neurons may be additional neurosecretory cells. From the present study it appears as if neuropeptides related to substance P, FMRFamide and CCK have roles as neurotransmitters/neuromodulators and circulating neurohormones in Drosophila and Calliphora.

Substance P-like immunoreactive neurons in the nervous system of Drosophila

With an antiserum against substance P a small number of neurons could be resolved in great detail in the nervous system of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. In the brain, 10 substance P-like immunoreactive (SPLI) neurons were individually identified. Two of these form extensive bilateral connections with dorsal and ventral protocerebral neuropil. Another two neurons have cell bodies located ventrally in the subesophageal ganglion and processes throughout subesophageal neuropil. In the thoracico-abdominal ganglia 10 SPLI neurons could be identified. Eight of these have large cell bodies located ventrally in thoracic ganglia and two have small cell bodies located posteriorly in the abdominal ganglia. Six of the 8 thoracic SPLI neurons could be resolved in detail and were found to form: (1) processes in dorsal thoracic and abdominal neuropil as well as processes running through the cervical connective into the subesophageal ganglia; and (2) processes running into the dorsal neural sheath of the thoracic ganglia. The latter processes form an extensive network of varicose terminals over the thoracic ganglia. Our results indicate that a substance P-like neuropeptide can act as a neurohormone released into the circulation from terminals in the neural sheath as well as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator released by interneurons in the brain.

Peptidergic nerve elements in three developmental stages of the tetraphyllidean tapeworm Trilocularia acanthiaevulgaris. An immunocytochemical study

The localization and distribution of seven neuropeptides in the nervous system of the plerocercoid, adult and free proglottis stages of the tetraphyllidean tapeworm Trilocularia acanthiaevulgaris have been determined by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Six of the peptides are vertebrate-derived, namely, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), substance P (SP) and somatostatin (SRIF); the seventh is the invertebrate neuropeptide, FMR Famide. This is the first demonstration of VIP and SP immunoreactivity in a cestode parasite, and for SRIF this is its first description in any parasitic platyhelminth. Cell bodies and nerve fibres immunoreactive to PP, PYY, VIP, SP and FMRFamide are present throughout the CNS; the distributions of PHI and SRIF were more restricted. In the PNS, nerve fibres immunoreactive to PP occur in the bothridia, whilst in the free proglottis nerve fibres immunoreactive to PYY and VIP innervate the gonads; VIP-immunoreactive nerve elements also supply the reproductive ducts. Extra-neuronal sitings of peptide immunoreactivities were evident for PHI, in association with the excretory system, and for SRIF, in presumed tegumental cell bodies in the free proglottis. The results are discussed in relation to the possible roles of the peptides in the neurophysiology and developmental biology of the worm.

Immunocytochemical demonstration of neuropeptides in the nervous system of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda, Digenea)

The localization and distribution of neuropeptides in the nervous system of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica at different stages in the development of the adult fluke have been determined by an indirect immunofluorescence technique, using antisera to 19 vertebrate peptides and the invertebrate neuropeptide, FMRFamide. Positive immunoreactivity was obtained with antisera to pancreatic polypeptide (PP), peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY), substance P (SP) and FMRFamide. Cell bodies and nerve fibres immunoreactive to the 4 peptides are present in the anterior ganglia and the 3 pairs of longitudinal nerve cords and their commissures in the central nervous system. In the peripheral nervous system, immunoreactivity occurs in the nerve plexuses supplying the subtegumental musculature, the oral and ventral suckers, and the muscular lining of the male and female reproductive ducts, including the ootype, uterus, cirrus pouch and gonopore. Cells displaying immunoreactivity to PYY and FMRFamide lie amongst the Mehlis' gland cells that surround the ootype. Processes from these cells extend into the wall of the ootype. One group of PP-immunoreactive cells occurs at the junction of the vitelline and ovovitelline ducts, whilst another group is situated at the entrance to the uterus from the ootype. The results are discussed in relation to the possible roles of the peptides in the neurophysiology and egg production of the fluke.

Tachykinin immunoreactivity in the parasitic flatworm Diclidophora merlangi and its fish host the whiting (Merlangius merlangus): radioimmunoassay and chromatographic characterisation using region-specific substance P and neurokinin A antisera

1. Tachykinin immunoreactivity has been quantified and chemically characterised in extracts of the monogenean parasite, Diclidophora merlangi and its fish host, Merlangius merlangus, by means of four tachykinin radioimmunoassays interfaced with gel permeation chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. 2. Of the two tachykinins identified in parasite tissue, one was SP-like and the other was NKA-like, although neither was identical to previously identified tachykinins. 3. Three tachykinins were identified in extracts of whiting GI tract, one of which was a neuropeptide and also occurred in whiting brain. 4. The parasite and fish tachykinins had different molecular weights and elution profiles in HPLC analyses, and were therefore chemically distinct.

Substance P and hydra: an immunohistochemical and physiological study

1. The distribution of substance P-like immunoreactivity was studied in Hydra attenuata using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. 2. Positive immunoreactivity was observed in ectodermal nerve cells and fibers as well as in nematoblasts at various stages of differentiation. 3. Administration of synthetic substance P to regenerating hydra did not affect regeneration rates. Exogenous substance P administration stimulated tentacle contraction and nematocyst displacement within battery cells. 4. It is suggested that substance P acts on the contractile apparatus of Hydra tissues.

Plasticity in the nervous system of adult hydra. II. Conversion of ganglion cells of the body column into epidermal sensory cells of the hypostome

Due to the tissue dynamics of hydra, every neuron is constantly changing its location within the animal. At the same time specific subsets of neurons defined by morphological or immunological criteria maintain their particular spatial distributions, suggesting that neurons switch their phenotype as they change their location. A position-dependent switch in neuropeptide expression has been demonstrated. The possibility that ganglion cells of the body column are converted into epidermal sensory cells of the head was examined using a monoclonal antibody, TS33, whose binding is restricted to a subset of epidermal sensory cells of the hypostome, the apical end of the head. When animals devoid of interstitial cells, which are the nerve cell precursors, were decapitated and allowed to regenerate, they formed TS33+ epidermal sensory cells. As this latter cell type is not found in the body column, and the interstitial cell-free animals contained only epithelial cells and ganglion cells in the part of the ectoderm that formed the head during regeneration, the TS33+ epidermal sensory cells most likely arose from the TS33- ganglion cells. The observation of epidermal sensory cells labeled with both TS33 and TS26, a monoclonal antibody that binds to ganglion cells, in regenerating and normal heads provides further support. The double-labeled cells are probably in transition from a ganglion cell to an epidermal sensory cell. These results provide a second example of position-dependent changes in neuron phenotype, and suggest that the differentiated state of a neuron in hydra is only metastable with regard to phenotype.

Immunocytochemical localization of regulatory peptides in six species of trematode parasites

1. Frozen and paraffin sections of six species of trematodes: Schistosoma mansoni, S. mattheei, S. japonicum, Schistosomatium douthitti, Echinostoma paraensei and Fasciola hepatica have been incubated with antisera against leu-enkephalin, FMRF-amide, gastrin-17, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, neurotensin, oxytocin, prolactin, substance P, thyroid stimulating hormone and cholecystokinin, using indirect immunofluorescence and biotin-avidin horseradish peroxidase detection systems. 2. Of the ten antisera tested, six (leu-enkephalin, FMRF-amide, gastrin-17, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, substance P and cholecystokinin) showed significant immunoreactivity, primarily in the central and peripheral nervous system, and also perhaps in the osmoregulatory system of the three species of Schistosoma. 3. Immunopositive nerve fibers extended from ganglia to gut wall, uterus and vitelline follicles, and especially from subtegumental nerve plexi to sensory receptors on the surface or in dorsal nippled tubercles.

Plasticity in the nervous system of adult hydra. I. The position-dependent expression of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity

The plasticity of nerve cells expressing the neuropeptide FMRFamide was examined in adult hydra. Using a whole-mount technique with indirect immunofluorescence, the spatial pattern of neurons showing FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity (FLI) was visualized. These neurons were located in the tentacles, hypostome, and peduncle, but not in the body column or basal disc. Since every neuron in the nerve net is continuously displaced toward an extremity and eventually sloughed, the constant pattern of FLI+ neurons could arise in one of two ways. When displaced into the appropriate region, FLI- neurons are converted to FLI+ neurons, or FLI+ neurons arise by differentiation from interstitial cells. To distinguish between these two possibilities, interstitial cells, the multipotent precursors of the nerve cells, were eliminated by treatment with hydroxyurea or nitrogen mustard. Following head, or foot and peduncle, removal from these animals, the missing structures regenerated. The spatial pattern of FLI+ neurons reappeared in the newly regenerated head or peduncle. This shows FLI- neurons in the body column were converted to FLI+ when their position was changed to the head or the peduncle. When the peduncle was grafted into the body column, it was converted to basal disc or body column tissue, and FLI disappeared. The appearance and loss of FLI was always position dependent. These results indicate that the neurons in the mature nerve net can change their neuropeptide phenotype in response to changes in their position.

Scyliorhinin I and II: two novel tachykinins from dogfish gut

Two peptides with tachykinin-like ability to contract longitudinal muscle from the guinea pig ileum were isolated from the intestine of the common dogfish, Scyliorhinus caniculus. The amino acid sequence of scyliorhinin I was established as Ala-Lys-Phe-Asp-Lys-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 and this peptide cross-reacted with antisera directed against the C-terminal region fo substance P. The amino acid sequence of scyliorhinin II was established as Ser-Pro-Ser-Asn-Ser-Lys-Cys-Pro-Asp-Gly-Pro-Asp-Cys-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met- NH2 and this peptide cross-reacted with antisera directed against the C-terminal region of neurokinin A. The mammalian peptides substance P and neurokinin A were absent from the dogfish intestinal tissue.

Use of a monoclonal antibody to classify neurons isolated from the head region of Hydra

A mouse monoclonal antibody (JD1) to Hydra attenuata using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method revealed unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar sensory and ganglion cells in the head region of H. littoralis. Neurons isolated from macerated hypostomes and tentacles were classified according to the number of their cytoplasmic processes and the position of the cilium, when present, relative to the perikaryon. PAP-stained sensory cells had an apical ciliary cone, whereas ganglion cells did not. Neurons with cytoplasmic processes longer than 50 microns stained faintly, whereas those with processes shorter than 50 microns in length stained mainly dense brown. Unipolar neurons had an oval, crescent, round, or elliptic perikaryon with a single short axon. The perikaryal shape of bipolar neurons varied from round to tall triangular, short triangular, crescent, oval, or elliptic with two oppositely directed symmetric or asymmetric processes. Asymmetric processes were present in a bipolar sensory cell with a long apical cilium typical of gastrodermal sensory cells. One type of bipolar ganglion cell had a short perikaryal cilium. Another type had neurites longer than 50 microns. We found seven morphological variations of multipolar neurons, including one with an apical knob, two with a short perikaryal cilium, two with cytoplasmic loops near the perikaryon, one with perpendicular processes projecting from the major neurites, and one with a branched process longer than 50 microns opposite a tangled mass of neurites.

Immunohistochemical and chromatographic studies of peptides with tachykinin-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the lamprey

The distribution and chemical properties of compounds with tachykinin-like immunoreactivity (TK-LI) in the spinal cord and brain of lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis and Ichthyomyzon unicuspis) were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry and various chromatographic methods combined with radioimmunoassay. The distribution of TK immunoreactive fibers in the lamprey spinal cord was investigated with 13 different TK antisera which gave positive staining in pilot experiments. The antisera were raised against substance P (SP) (n = 6), physalaemin (PHY) (n = 1), neurokinin A (NKA) (n = 2), kassinin (KAS) (n = 2) or eledoisin (ELE) (n = 2). Pre-incubation of these antisera with their corresponding TKs abolished or reduced the immunostaining. Four different patterns of distribution were found with the 13 antisera, and they did not seem to be related to the TKs against which the antisera were raised. The different patterns could be explained by assuming the presence of the three different TKs. Six different antisera, raised against SP (n = 2), KAS (n = 2) or ELE (n = 2), were used for radioimmunoassay. The TK-LI material eluted as several separate components in various chromatographic systems. The central nervous system (CNS) of the lamprey did not contain measurable amounts of SP, NKA, neurokinin B (NKB), KAS or ELE. The present data imply that the lamprey CNS contains at least three different TKs probably different from SP, PHY, NKA, NKB, KAS or ELE; these are possibly new, not earlier described TKs. The three hypothetical TKs differ in their distribution.

Stimulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation in the intact and regenerating planarian Dugesia(G) tigrina by the neuropeptide substance P

The neuropeptide substance P (SP) is shown to be a potent mitogen for intact and regenerating planarians. At nanomolar concentrations, SP markedly enhances cellular proliferation causing an increase in the mitotic index and in the number of blastema cells. Moreover, albeit to a lower extent, SP enhances cellular differentiation as shown by the increases in eye and pharynx length in regenerating organisms. On the basis of these observations, we hypothesize that SP may be one of the postulated growth factors necessary for the stimulation of proliferation, and to a lesser extent differentiation of cells in intact and regenerating planarians.

Localization of a substance P-like material in the central and peripheral nervous system of the snail Helix aspersa

A monoclonal antibody against substance P was used for immunocytochemical staining of the central ganglia of the snail Helix aspersa and several peripheral tissues including the gut, reproductive system, cardiovascular system, tentacle and other muscles. Within the central ganglia many neurons, and many fibres in the neuropile and the nerves entering the ganglia, were stained for the SP-like material. The largest numbers of reactive cell bodies were in the pleural ganglia and on the dorsal surfaces of the pedal ganglia. A group of cells was also found, surrounding the right pedal-cerebral connective, that did not fluoresce, but were enveloped by reactive processes terminating directly onto the neurone somata. Specific staining was observed in all peripheral tissues examined and always appeared to be concentrated in nerve terminals. Most particularly these occurred in the heart and aorta, the pharyngeal retractor muscle and the tentacle. Although mostly present in muscular tissues, some fluorescence was also observed in the nervous layer surrounding the retina. The tentacular ganglion also contained immunoreactive cell bodies.

Substance P-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the blattarian insect Periplaneta americana L. revealed by a monoclonal antibody

Brains, retrocerebral complexes and frontal and suboesophageal ganglia of adult American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana, were immunohistochemically investigated with a specific monoclonal antibody (McAb) directed against a well characterized antigenic determinant, namely the COOH terminus of the endecapeptide substance P (SP). This resulted in the detection of several neurons and nerve fibres containing a substance antigenically closely related to this typically vertebrate neuropeptide. No difference in staining pattern could be observed between male and female insects. Related to the age of the adult specimens, however, a slight quantitative difference in SP immunoreactivity seems to occur, which probably might have functional implications. The SP-like peptide demonstrated in this study appears to be located in different neuronal structures than the ones that we earlier described as containing ACTH-, CRF-, OT-, AVP-, NP I-, NP II-, BPP-, FMRFamide-, AKH-, met-ENK-, FSH-, LH- and LHRF-like material (Verhaert et al. 1984a, b, 1985; Verhaert and De Loof 1985a, b).

Substance P-like immunoreactivity is present in the central nervous system of Limulus polyphemus

The distribution of substance P-like immunoreactivity (substance P-li) in the central nervous system of Limulus polyphemus was studied by using indirect immunocytochemical techniques. Six bilaterally symmetrical pairs of cell clusters in the circumesophageal connectives and the subesophageal mass contain substance P-li. Two of those pairs are the source of a system of efferent fibers that is involved in the expression of circadian rhythms of photosensitivity by the lateral eye. Substance P-li-containing cells were also observed scattered along the length of the circumesophageal connectives, which contain abundant stained fibers and some terminals. Substance P-li fibers leave through the ventral and dorsal nerves of the posterior circumesophageal ring. The neuropil of the subesophageal mass contains an abundance of stained terminals. Immunoreactive fibers can be seen throughout the length of the two longitudinal connectives of the ventral cord, in discrete fiber tracts in the lateral edges of the interganglionic connectives, and in the dorsal and ventral nerves of abdominal ganglia 1-4. Each of these ganglia contains three pairs of substance P-immunoreactive cell body clusters: an anterolateral, a medial longitudinal, and a medial posterior cluster. Substance P-li fibers entering through the ventral (posterior) nerves form very distinctive fascicles in each side of the ganglia, giving off fibers throughout their length. The neuropil is filled with immunoreactive terminals distributed homogeneously. The anterolateral clusters of the abdominal ganglia may be involved in cardioregulation. The six pairs of clusters in the posterior circumesophageal ring, and perhaps some of those in the abdominal ganglia, are believed to constitute a neurosecretory system, projecting to multiple targets throughout the organism. This system is postulated to modulate various sensory inputs and motor activity, and could be driven by a circadian clock, as well as by other systems responsible for integrated organismic responses.

A subset of cells in the nerve net of Hydra oligactis defined by a monoclonal antibody: its arrangement and development

A monoclonal antibody, termed JD1, was generated that bound to a subset of the nerve cells in the hypostome and tentacles of Hydra oligactis. Using a whole-mount technique the spatial pattern of the subset of nerve cells and their processes could be clearly visualized using indirect immunofluorescence. The subset largely corresponds to the epidermal sensory cells. Using the same technique the development of the pattern during head regeneration and budding was examined. The appearance of the nerve cells coincides with the formation of both the tentacles and hypostome. When head regeneration does not occur, JD1+ cells do not appear suggesting the differentiation of JD1+ cells is an integral event in head formation dependent on antecedent patterning processes.

Light and electron microscopic localization of a monoclonal antibody in neurons in situ in the head region of Hydra

A mouse monoclonal antibody to Hydra attenuata was used to demonstrate immunoreactive product in neurons in situ, in both whole mount and sectioned hypostomes and tentacles of H. oligactis and H. littoralis. Immunoreactive cells were concentrated around the mouth and scattered along the length of the tentacles. In the hypostome, nerve cells sent one or more processes orally and the others aborally but the processes were more distinctly stained in H. oligactis. A thin strand of five to six perihypostomal neurons was present close to the hypostome-tentacle junction. In the tentacles, neurons with long processes contacted up to five different batteries of nematocysts. Neural processes were associated with nematocyst batteries in three ways: 1) forming a perikaryal loop to encircle a centrally located stenotele, 2) branching at a distance from the perikaryon to contact a variety of nematocysts, and 3) terminal branching by one or more neurons with contacts on one to several nematocysts within a battery. Immunocytochemical localization of neurons in Hydra by light microscopy was correlated for the first time with electron microscopy. Peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP)-positive sensory cells were concentrated around the mouth opening. PAP-positive ganglion cells were predominant in the tentacles. Sensory cells were elongate or spindle-shaped (unipolar), triangular with two oppositely directed processes (bipolar), and multipolar (tripolar or tetrapolar) with one of the processes extending to the epidermal surface. Ganglion cells were either unipolar or bipolar or multipolar, with neurites paralleling the mesoglea and occasionally having processes abut on it.

Characterization of substance P-like immunoreactivity in submammalian species by high performance liquid chromatography

Substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI) as measured by RIA was found to be present in a variety of submammalian species and invertebrates. We analyzed this SP-LI in extracts from submammalian species by high performance liquid chromatography. The following species were investigated for the presence of SP-LI (RIA) which was further characterized by subsequent HPLC (investigated areas in parentheses): Hagfish (brain plus spinal cord), (brain, intestine, skin), frog (brain, intestine), turtle (brain, intestine), lizard (brain, intestine, skin) and mouse (spinal cord). RIA alone was performed in extracts from branchiostoma and cricket. The concentrations of SP-LI in brain, spinal cord and intestine of different submammalian species except branchiostoma brain and intestine and turtle brain, were in a similar range (2.1-5.3 fmol/mg in the brain, 0.2-2.0 fmol/mg in the spinal cord, 0.3-4.2 fmol/mg in the intestine). In the turtle brain, extremely high SP-LI concentrations (210 fmol/mg) were found, whereas brain and intestine of branchiostoma contained very little SP-LI (0.1 fmol/mg). In the skin of different species, SP-LI concentrations varied from 0.04 fmol/mg (trout) to 2.0 fmol/mg (lizard). In the cricket, high SP-LI concentrations were found in the cerebral ganglion (15 fmol/mg protein) and in the subesophageal ganglion (27 fmol/mg protein). HPLC analysis of extracts showed that all tissues investigated contained a substance which co-eluted with synthetic SP, and in most tissues a peak was present which co-eluted with SP sulfoxide. Only in mouse spinal cord, trout brain and hagfish brain were these the only peaks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immunocytochemical demonstration of peptidergic neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems of the flatworm Microstomum lineare with antiserum to FMRF-amide

The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of the flatworm Microstomum lineare were studied by means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunocytochemical method, with the use of antisera to the molluscan cardioactive peptide FMRF-amide. FMRF-amide immunoreactive perikarya and nerve fibres are observed in the CNS and the PNS. In the CNS, immunoreactive perikarya and nerve fibres occur in the brain, in the epithelial lining and the mesenchymal surroundings of the ciliated pits, and positive fibres in the longitudinal nerve cords. In the PNS, immunoreactive fibre bundles with variocosities occur in the pharyngeal nerve ring, in symmetrical groups of perikarya on each side of the pharynx, and in the mouth area. Positive perikarya and meandering nerve fibres appear in the intestinal wall. A few immunoreactive cells and short nerve processes are observed at the male copulatory organ and on both sides of the vagina. Some immunoreactive peptidergic cells do not correspond to cells previously identified by histological techniques for neurosecretory cells. The distribution of immunoreactivity suggests that the FMRF-amide-like substance in CNS and PNS in this worm has roles similar to those of the brain-gut peptides in vertebrates. The status of FMRF-amide-like peptides as representatives of an evolutionarily old family of peptides is confirmed by the positive immunoreaction to anti-FMRF-amide in this primitive microturbellarian.

Aminergic neurotransmitters and adenylate cyclase in hydra

Serotonin, dopamine and, in lesser amounts, norepinephrine were detected in Chlorohydra viridissima with electrochemical detection coupled to liquid chromatography (LCED). Treatment with reserpine induces a significant decrease in amine levels. Adenylate cyclase was found in Hydra tissue; the enzyme is stimulated by Mg, Mn and F and sensitive to guanine nucleotide activation. Dopamine, serotonin, GSH and glutamate do not affect cyclase activity.

Numbers, distribution, and types of neurons in the pedal disk of Hydra based on a serial reconstruction from transmission electron micrographs

The numbers, distribution, and types of neurons in a pedal disk of Hydra littoralis were determined from electron micrographs of 567 serial sections approximately 0.12 micron thick. Of 248 neurons counted, we found 234 ganglion cells in the epidermis and 14 in the gastrodermis. No sensory cells with surface projecting cilia were observed in either epithelial layer of the foot region. We found ciliary structures in 196 (84%) of the epidermal neurons: 55 had a well defined cilium-stereociliary complex, 30 had a cilium lacking stereocilia, and 111 could not be classified. In contrast, 38 epidermal neurons lacked evidence of ciliary structures; 10 of the 14 gastrodermal neurons had one or more centrioles, some with an elaborate pericentriolar rootlet system, but no cilium or stereocilia. Neuronal perikarya could be classified into those with dense heterochromatic nuclei and those with light granular nuclei; often these two nuclear variations were observed in paired or triad arrangements of epidermal neurons. In addition, 68 (29%) of the epidermal neurons were characterized by the presence of small dense granules (115-178 nm in diameter) in the cytoplasm around the periciliary space. Although 32 pairs and 5 triads of contiguous neuronal perikarya were present in the epidermis, only two paired neuronal perikarya were present in the gastrodermis. The major concentration of neurons was approximately midway between the basal surface and the region of transition of epitheliomuscular cells into glandulomuscular cells. There was no evidence of large neuronal aggregations suggestive of ganglia in the pedal disk.

Coexistence of neuropeptides in hydra

Using a technique for simultaneous visualisation of two antigens in one section, oxytocin-like immunoreactivity has been found to coexist with bombesin-like immunoreactivity in neurons of the basal disk, gastric region and tentacles of hydra. Neurons with oxytocin-like immunoreactivity in peduncle and hypostome, on the other hand, have little or no bombesin-like material. Oxytocin-like immunoreactivity never coexists with FMRFamide-immunoreactivity. The neurons with oxytocin- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity, however, are often found to be closely intermingled. The results show that coexistence, as well as non-coexistence, of neuropeptides is a phylogenetically old principle.

Distribution of substance P-like immunoreactivity in the brain of the newt (Triturus cristatus)

The distribution of immunoreactive substance P (sP)-containing structures in the newt brain and spinal cord was explored with an indirect immunofluorescence method. Five sP-positive elements were detected: perikarya, dots, fibers, pericellular appositions, and pipe-shaped structures. Perikarya were seen at the levels of the spinal ganglia, spinal cord, raphe nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, mesencephalon, preoptic area, infundibulum, dorsocaudal part of the ventral hypothalamus, habenula, and corpus striatum. Pericellular terminals were observed in periventricular areas, known to be rich in catecholaminergic cells; pipe-shaped structures were observed from the corpus striatum to diencephalon, and in mesencephalon. The olfactory nerve and nuclei were devoid of sP-positive elements. Six sP-immunofluorescent pathways were detected. One of them is composed of axons with huge varicosities and extends from the lateral spinal cord area to the mesencephalon. This pathway has not been described as yet in other animals and could be peculiar to the newt.

FMRFamide immunoreactivity is generally occurring in the nervous systems of coelenterates

Abundant FMRFamide immunoreactivity has been found in the nervous systems of all hydrozoan, anthozoan, scyphozoan and ctenophoran species that were looked upon. This general and abundant occurrence shows that FMRFamide-like material must play a crucial role in the functioning of primitive nervous systems.