TY - JOUR
T1 - Identification and localization of neurohypophysial peptides in the brain of a caecilian amphibian, Typhlonectes natans (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)
AU - Hilscher-Conklin, Caryl
AU - Conlon, J. Michael
AU - Boyd, Sunny K.
PY - 1998/5/4
Y1 - 1998/5/4
N2 - The amphibian order Gymnophiona contains more than 150 different species of caecilians. The characterization and distribution of neurohypophysial peptides, however, has not been described for any member of this order. By using high-performance liquid chromatography, radioimmunoassay, and mass spectrometry, we identified the peptide arginine vasotocin (AVT) in brain and pituitary extracts from the caecilian Typhlonectes natans. By using immunocytochemistry, we found five populations of AVT-immunoreactive (AVT- ir) cells in the brain of T. natans. AVT-ir cell bodies were located in the preoptic area, amygdala pars medialis, ventral thalamus, dorsal hypothalamic nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract. AVT-ir fibers and terminal fields were widespread. We also identified a mesotocin-like peptide. The distribution of this peptide in the brain of T. natans was more restricted than the distribution of AVT. Mesotocin-like-immunoreactive cell bodies were located almost exclusively in the preoptic area, with only a few other cells located in the amygdala pars medialis. This caecilian species, therefore, possesses neurohypophysial peptides that are similar in their structure and distribution to the peptides found in anuran and urodele amphibian orders.
AB - The amphibian order Gymnophiona contains more than 150 different species of caecilians. The characterization and distribution of neurohypophysial peptides, however, has not been described for any member of this order. By using high-performance liquid chromatography, radioimmunoassay, and mass spectrometry, we identified the peptide arginine vasotocin (AVT) in brain and pituitary extracts from the caecilian Typhlonectes natans. By using immunocytochemistry, we found five populations of AVT-immunoreactive (AVT- ir) cells in the brain of T. natans. AVT-ir cell bodies were located in the preoptic area, amygdala pars medialis, ventral thalamus, dorsal hypothalamic nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract. AVT-ir fibers and terminal fields were widespread. We also identified a mesotocin-like peptide. The distribution of this peptide in the brain of T. natans was more restricted than the distribution of AVT. Mesotocin-like-immunoreactive cell bodies were located almost exclusively in the preoptic area, with only a few other cells located in the amygdala pars medialis. This caecilian species, therefore, possesses neurohypophysial peptides that are similar in their structure and distribution to the peptides found in anuran and urodele amphibian orders.
KW - High-performance liquid chromatography
KW - Immunocytochemistry
KW - Mesotocin
KW - Vasopressin
KW - Vasotocin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032482166&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9861(19980504)394:2<139::AID-CNE1>3.0.CO;2-3
DO - 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9861(19980504)394:2<139::AID-CNE1>3.0.CO;2-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 9552122
AN - SCOPUS:0032482166
SN - 0021-9967
VL - 394
SP - 139
EP - 151
JO - Journal of Comparative Neurology
JF - Journal of Comparative Neurology
IS - 2
ER -