The distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the hydrozoan nervous system

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dc.contributor.authorCoe, Imogen Ruthen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-13T17:54:20Z
dc.date.available2024-08-13T17:54:20Z
dc.date.copyright1987en_US
dc.date.issued1987
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Biology
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science M.Sc.en
dc.description.abstractThe distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity (Fa-IR) in the nervous system of four orders of hydromedusae and one species of hydroid was investigated using commercially produced polyclonal antisera to FMRFamide and whole mount immunocytochemistry. Representatives of the genera Phialidium, Aequorea (Leptomedusae), Euphysa, Halitholus, Sarsia, Bougainvillia, Stomotoca (Anthomedusae), Gonionemus, Proboscidactyla (Limnomedusae), Aegina, and Solmissus (Narcomedusae) were used. the hydroid studied was that of the Leptomedusa Eirene viridula. In all hydromedusae Fa-IR was found to be restricted to a specific subset of nerves, those associated with smooth muscle and certain sensory structures, suggesting that a FMRFamide-like compound is a potential neurotransmitter or neuromodulator in hydrozoa. Two possible roles for the neuropeptide are suggested, one within a system modulating nematocyte discharge and one within a system mediating smooth muscle contraction. The extent of Fa-IR varied between different species being present in the manubrium of all but in the velum of only three. Fa-IR in the subumbrella and nerve rings also differed depending on the species. In Eirene viridula Fa-IR was present in much of the nervous system, especially in sensory cells around the hypostome. Some morphological centralisation was observed in the region of the tentacle bases where large multipolar immunoreactive cell bodies (fan cells) are present. These appear to be in a position to influence information transfer between the main body of the animal and the tentacles and hypostome. The FMRFamide-like compound in the hydroid may be functioning in similar systems to those suggested for the hydromedusae. Since neuropeptides have previously been localised to dense-core vesicles an attempt was made to correlate presence of Fa-IR at the light microscope level with ultrastructual location in one hydromedusa Phialidium sp. using electron microscopy. Dense-core vesicles of neuropeptide-containing size (80-160 nm) were found to be present in a proportion of the neurons in all regions of the medusa. It was not possible to positively identify them as containing the FMRFamide- like compound. They are, however, a potential site of storage for a putative neurotransmitter or neuromodulator.
dc.format.extent114 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/17487
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleThe distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the hydrozoan nervous systemen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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