ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Nitric oxide synthase
;
Nervous system
;
Gut
;
Endocrine cells
;
Immunocytochemistry
;
Marthasterias glacialis (Echinodermata)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The neuroendocrine system of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis was investigated immunocytochemically using antisera specific for rat neuronal, bovine aortic endothelial, and mouse macrophage, nitric oxide (NO) synthases. Immunoreactivity was detected only with the antibodies specific for the neural enzyme, in the ectoneural and hyponeural tissues of the radial nerve cords and in the basiepithelial plexus and endocrine cells of the digestive tract. The pyloric stomach showed more immunoreactive structures than the other digestive organs, with the rectal caeca showing the least activity. Immunoreactive endocrine cells were located in the cardiac and pyloric stomachs and in the pyloric caeca. Co-localization of the enzyme immunoreactivity, and the staining for NADPH-diaphorase, demonstrate the presence of NO synthase in echinoderms. These results provide further evidence that NO is a neuronal messenger of early phylogenetic origin which has been conserved throughout evolution.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00318828
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