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Changes in the Expression of PACAP-like Compounds During the Embryonic Development of the Earthworm Eisenia fetida

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Abstract

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is expressed at very early stages in the vertebrate nervous system, and its functions in the embryonic development have been shown by various studies. PACAP is an extremely conserved molecule in phylogeny; however, little is known about its presence and functions in invertebrates. Our previous studies have shown the occurrence of PACAP-like immunoreactivity in the invertebrate nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and localization of PACAP-like compounds during the embryonic development of earthworms from cocoon deposition to hatching using immunological methods (radioimmunoassay, dot blot, immunohistochemistry). PACAP-like immunoreactive compounds were detected at very early stages of the embryonic development of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. No significant changes were observed during the early stages in the developing embryo, but a marked increase occurred before hatching. In contrast, during the embryonic development, the level of PACAP-like compounds gradually decreased in cocoon fluids. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of PACAP-like immunoreactive cell bodies and processes in the developing body wall, prostomium, pharyngeal wall, and central nervous system. Cells located in the body wall correspond to putative progenitor cells of primary sensory cells. In the present study, we also showed that the clitellum (reproductive organ) of sexually mature worms contained significantly higher levels of PACAP-like immunoreactivity than other regions of the same animals or the clitellar region of a non-reproducing animal. In summary, these observations provide a morphological basis and suggest a role of PACAP(-like peptides) in the reproductive and developmental functions of invertebrates.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund OTKA T046589, F048908, F67830, K72592, and ETT439/2006 and Bolyai Scholarship. The authors thank Prof. George Boyan and Dr. Angelika Böttger for their help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Zoology, University of Pécs, Ifjúság u. 6., 7624, Pécs, Hungary

    Akos Boros, Gabor Kiszler, Edit Pollak & Laszló Molnar

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Pecs, Pécs, Hungary

    Dora Reglodi, Andrea Lubics, Peter Kiss & Andrea Tamas

  3. Institute for Neurobiology, Ludwig Maximilian University Biocentrum, Munich, Germany

    Zsofia Herbert

  4. Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

    Jozsef Nemeth

  5. Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Seiji Shioda

  6. Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan

    Kouhei Matsuda

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  1. Akos Boros
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  2. Dora Reglodi
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  3. Zsofia Herbert
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  4. Gabor Kiszler
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  5. Jozsef Nemeth
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  6. Andrea Lubics
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  7. Peter Kiss
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  8. Andrea Tamas
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  9. Seiji Shioda
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  10. Kouhei Matsuda
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  11. Edit Pollak
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  12. Laszló Molnar
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Correspondence to Laszló Molnar.

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Pollák E. and Molnár L. made equal contribution to the present work.

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Boros, A., Reglodi, D., Herbert, Z. et al. Changes in the Expression of PACAP-like Compounds During the Embryonic Development of the Earthworm Eisenia fetida . J Mol Neurosci 36, 157–165 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-008-9102-6

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