Characterization of two components of the peripheral nervous system of Chelyosoma productum and Corella inflata/
Date
1995
Authors
Om Prakash, Manish
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Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine the characteristics of the dorsal strand complex in Chelyosoma productum and Corella injlata, and compare it to the 'cholinergic' visceral and branchial innervation. Tunicates possess an extensive peripheral nervous system, one component of which has cell bodies in the neural ganglion and shows a strong cholinesterase activity. Previous researchers, however, describe another component: the dorsal strand plexus (dsp) that lies in close association with the dorsal strand. The dorsal strand is proposed to be involved in gonadogenesis and neuroblastogenesis, giving rise to the neurons of the plexus but the role of the plexus remains unclear.
The extent of the peripheral nervous system was mapped using histochemical and immunocytochemical techniques. A certain degree of overlap of innervation exists between the two components; however, the dsp is more localized around the dorsal strand and the reproductive tract. Immunocytochemistry, coupled with electron microscopy, reveals the GnRH-like peptide is localized in the dense core vesicles of the neurons and the neurites of the plexus. The dorsal strand plexus differs from the cholinergic system in having its cell bodies in the periphery, having no cholinesterase activity, its lack of reactivity with tubulin antiserum and its strong immunoreactivity with GnRH antiserum. The significance of these findings is discussed.