Distribution of the Aplysia cardioexcitatory peptide, NdWFamide, in the central and peripheral nervous systems of Aplysia.

Abstract

NdWFamide is an Aplysia cardioexcitatory tri-peptide containing D-tryptophan. To investigate the roles of this peptide, we examined the immunohistochemical distribution of NdWFamide-positive neurons in Aplysia tissues. All the ganglia of the central nervous system (CNS) contained NdWFamide-positive neurons. In particular, two left upper quadrant cells in the abdominal ganglion, and the anterior cells in the pleural ganglion showed extensive positive signals. NdWFamide-positive processes were observed in peripheral tissues, such as those of the cardio-vascular system, digestive tract, and sex-accessory organs, and in the connectives or neuropils in the CNS. NdWFamide-positive neurons were abundant in peripheral plexuses, such as the stomatogastric ring. To examine the NdWFamide contents of tissues, we fractionated peptidic extracts from the respective tissues by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and then assayed the fractions by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A fraction corresponding to the retention time of synthetic NdWFamide contained the most immunoreactivity, indicating that the tissues contained NdWFamide. The prevalence of the NdWFamide content was roughly in the order: abdominal ganglion >heart >gill >blood vessels >digestive tract. In most of the tissues containing NdWFamide-positive nerves, NdWFamide modulated the motile activities of the tissues. Thus, NdWFamide seems to be a versatile neurotransmitter/modulator of Aplysia and probably regulates the physiological activities of this animal.

• Authors: Fumihiro Morishita, Yuka Nakanishi, Kosei Sasaki, Kazunori Kanemaru, Yasuo Furukawa, Osamu Matsushima
• Journal: Cell and tissue research (Cell Tissue Res) Vol. 312 Issue 1 Pg. 95-111 (Apr 2003) ISSN: 0302-766X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12712320 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Oligopeptides
• asparaginyl-tryptophyl-phenylalaninamide

Topics

• Animals
• Aplysia (anatomy & histology, metabolism)
• Arteries (cytology, metabolism)
• Central Nervous System (anatomy & histology, chemistry, metabolism)
• Ganglia (cytology, metabolism)
• Gastrointestinal Tract (anatomy & histology, metabolism)
• Genitalia (anatomy & histology, metabolism)
• Neurons (cytology, metabolism)
• Oligopeptides (metabolism)
• Peripheral Nervous System (anatomy & histology, chemistry, metabolism)
• Tissue Distribution