ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Key words: Immunocytes
;
DAMA
;
Cytokines
;
ACTH
;
MSH
;
Morphine
;
Leucophaea maderae (Insecta)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract. Opioid peptides activate immunocytes and opiate alkaloids inhibit this activation in the mussel, Mytilus edulis. Here we present evidence that cells of another invertebrate, Leucophaea maderae, can be influenced in a similar way by the Met-enkephalin analogue D-Ala2-Met5-enkephalin (DAMA) and morphine. Effects of different signal molecules on Leucophaea hemocytes were evaluated by computer-assisted image analysis of their conformational state. A small percentage of the untreated cells were found to display spontaneous conformational changes after 25 min of incubation without pharmacological agents which was noted as a decrease in both circularity factor and shape factor values. Activation caused the cells to become elliptical, a feature that appears to be characteristic of Leucophaea immunocytes. Administration of DAMA induced a similar activation of most of the cells. After 30 min these DAMA-activated cells started to display distinct locomotory activity not seen in the controls. α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH, 10−7) added to the incubation medium after DAMA-activation caused the cells to return to their original ”rounded” conformation. In addition, the presence of immunoreactive interleukin (IL-1), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the hemolymph was demonstrated. These data suggest an interaction between both vertebrate-type immunological signal molecules and neuropeptides in the regulation of immunological cells in Leucophaea.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004410050516
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