Organisation of the nervous system in the Acoela: an immunocytochemical study

M. Reuter, O.I. Raikova, U. Jondelius, M.K.S. Gustafsson, Aaron Maule, David Halton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In order to broaden the information about the organisation of the nervous system in taxon Acoela, an immunocytochemical study of an undetermined Acoela from Cape Kartesh, Faerlea glomerata, Avagina incola and Paraphanostoma crassum has been performed. Antibodies to 5-HT and the native flatworm neuropeptide GYIRFamide were used. As in earlier studies, the pattern of 5-HT immunoreactivity revealed an anterior structure composed mainly of commissures, a so-called commissural brain. Three types of brain shapes were observed. No regular orthogon was visualised. GYIRFamide immunoreactive cell clusters were observed peripherally to the 5-HT immunoreactive commissural brain. Staining with anti-GYIRFamide revealed more nerve processes than did staining with anti-FMRFamide. As no synapomorphies were found in the organisation of the nervous system of the Acoela and that of the Platyhelminthes, the results support the view that the Acoela is not a member of the Platyhelminthes. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)119-128
Number of pages10
JournalTissue & Cell
Volume33
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Insect Science
  • Cell Biology

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