Allatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the abdomen of the locust Schistocerca gregaria.

A polyclonal antibody against allatostatin 1 (AST-1) of cockroach Diploptera punctata was used to investigate the distribution of AST-like immunoreactivity within the abdomen of the locust, Schistocerca gregaria. In the abdominal ganglia, AST-like immunoreactivity was found in both cell bodies and neuropile. In ganglia 6 and 7, staining was found in serial homologous cell bodies in anterior dorsolateral and dorsomedial, and posterior ventrolateral and ventromedial locations.

Immunocytochemical and molecular data guide peptide identification by mass spectrometry: orcokinin and orcomyotropin-related peptides in the stomatogastric nervous system of several crustacean species.

In order to identify new orcokinin and orcomyotropin-related peptides in crustaceans, molecular and immunocytochemical data were combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). In the crayfish Procambarus clarkii, four orcokinins and an orcomyotropin-related peptide are present on the precursor. Because these peptides are highly conserved, we assumed that other species have an identical number of peptides.

Neuropeptides in the crayfish stomatogastric nervous system.

Neuropeptides are peptides with profound effects on the nervous system. The function of neuropeptides can be studied in detail in the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS). Neuropeptides are ubiquitously distributed in the STNS and it contains well-studied neural circuits that are strongly modulated by neuropeptides.

Putative neurohemal release zones in the stomatogastric nervous system of decapod crustaceans.

The stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) of decapod crustaceans has long been used to study the modulation of small neural circuits. Profiles in the sheath of the nerves and ganglia of the STNS, which contain only dense-core vesicles, have been described in electron microscopical studies (Friend [1976] Cell Tissue Res. 175:369-380; Kilman and Marder [1997] Soc Neurosci Abstr.

Identification of orcokinins in single neurons in the stomatogastric nervous system of the crayfish, Cherax destructor.

The orcokinins are a highly conserved family of crustacean peptides that enhance hindgut contractions in the crayfish Orconectes limosus (Stangier et al. [1992] Peptides 13:859-864). By combining immunocytochemical and mass spectrometrical analysis of the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) in the crayfish Cherax destructor, we show that multiple orcokinins are synthesized in single neurons.

Neuropeptides are ubiquitous chemical mediators: Using the stomatogastric nervous system as a model system.

The stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) controls the movements of the foregut and the oesophagus of decapod crustaceans and is a good example for demonstrating that peptides are ubiquitously distributed chemical mediators in the nervous system. The stomatogastric ganglion (STG), one of the four ganglia of the STNS, contains the most intensively investigated neuronal circuits. The other ganglia, including the two commissural ganglia (CoGs) and the oesophageal ganglion (OG), are thought to be modulatory control centres.

Synaptic neuropil in nerves of the crustacean stomatogastric nervous system: an immunocytochemical and electron microscopical study.

Patches of peptide-immunoreactive varicosities have been found in nerves of the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) of decapod crustaceans. In the present study, these patches were examined in detail in the stomatogastric nerve (stn) and in the superior oesophageal nerve (son) of the crayfish Cherax destructor by using whole-mount immunocytochemical techniques combined with confocal microscopy and, in addition, electron microscopy. Double-labeling experiments with antibodies generated against the peptides allatostatin, FMRFamide and proctolin, combined with an antibody generated against the small vesicle protein synapsin, suggest that each patch contains small synaptic vesicles in addition to all three peptides.

Immunocytochemical localization of FLRFamide-, proctolin-, and CCAP-like peptides in the stomatogastric nervous system and neurohemal structures of the crayfish, Cherax destructor.

To compare the stomatogastric nervous system of the crayfish Cherax destructor with those of other decapod species, the distribution of FLRF (Phe-Leu-Arg-Phe) amide-, proctolin- and crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP)-like immunoreactivities was studied in the stomatogastric nervous system and in neurosecretory structures by using wholemount immunocytochemical techniques and confocal microscopy. In addition, the number of cells in the stomatogastric ganglion (19-24) and axon profiles in the stomatogastric nerve (157-165) were counted. FLRFamide-like immunoreactivity was present within numerous cell bodies and neuropil of the commissural ganglia, in the neuropil of the stomatogastric ganglion, and in one cell body of the esophageal ganglion.

Structure, distribution, and biological activity of novel members of the allatostatin family in the crayfish Orconectes limosus.

In the central and peripheral nervous system of the crayfish, Orconectes limosus, neuropeptides immunoreactive to an antiserum against allatostatin I (= Dipstatin 7) of the cockroach Diploptera punctata have been detected by immunocytochemistry and a sensitive enzyme immunoassay. Abundant immunoreactivity occurs throughout the central nervous system in distinct interneurons and neurosecretory cells. The latter have terminals in well-known neurohemal organs, such as the sinus gland, the pericardial organs, and the perineural sheath of the ventral nerve cord.

Allatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the stomatogastric nervous system and the pericardial organs of the crab Cancer pagurus, the lobster Homarus americanus, and the crayfish Cherax destructor and Procambarus clarkii.

The distribution of allatostatin (AST)-like immunoreactivity was studied in the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) and the neurosecretory pericardial organs (PO) of four decapod crustacean species by using wholemount immunocytochemical techniques and confocal microscopy. AST-like immunoreactivity was found within the STNS of all four species; its distribution in each was unique. In all four species, AST-like immunoreactivity was present in the paired commissural ganglia (CoG), in the esophageal ganglion (OG), in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG), and in their connecting nerves.

Modulation of oscillator interactions in the crab stomatogastric ganglion by crustacean cardioactive peptide.

The modulation of the pyloric rhythm of the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis, by crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) is described. CCAP activated pyloric rhythms in most silent preparations, and altered the phase relationships of pyloric motor neuron firing in all preparations. In CCAP, the pyloric rhythms were characterized by long lateral pyloric (LP) neuron bursts of action potentials.

Matrix of neuromodulators in neurosecretory structures of the crab Cancer borealis.

The crustacean stomatogastric ganglion, which is situated in the ophthalmic artery, can be modulated by both intrinsically released molecules and hormones. In the crab Cancer borealis, over a dozen neuroactive compounds have been identified in the input axons that project into the stomatogastric neuropil. However, little is known about the modulator content of the two major neurohemal organs, the sinus glands and the pericardial organs, in this crab.

Allatostatin peptides in the crab stomatogastric nervous system: inhibition of the pyloric motor pattern and distribution of allatostatin-like immunoreactivity.

The effects of four Diploptera punctata allatostatin peptides on the stomatogastric nervous system of the crab Cancer borealis were studied. All of the peptides had similar actions on the activity of neurons involved in rhythmic movements of the pyloric region of the stomach, decreasing the frequency of the pyloric rhythm in a dose-dependent manner. Diploptera allatostatin 3 (D-AST-3) was slightly more effective than the others.

Evidence that histamine is the inhibitory transmitter of the auditory interneuron ON1 of crickets.

The omega neurons of crickets are connected with each other by reciprocal inhibition. This inhibition could be mimicked by bath-applied histamine and blocked by histamine H1-antagonists. Histamine, like ON1, also influenced the ascending interneuron AN2, so that its response pattern more closely reflected the temporal structure of the calling song.