Peptidergic neurons in the snail Helix pomatia: distribution of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems that react with an antibody raised to the insect neuropeptide, leucokinin I

Leucokinins: Multifunctional Neuropeptides and Hormones in Insects and Other Invertebrates

Leucokinins (LKs) constitute a neuropeptide family first discovered in a cockroach and later identified in numerous insects and several other invertebrates. The LK receptors are only distantly related to other known receptors. Among insects, there are many examples of species where genes encoding LKs and their receptors are absent. Furthermore, genomics has revealed that LK signaling is lacking in several of the invertebrate phyla and in vertebrates. In insects, the number and complexity of LK-expressing neurons vary, from the simple pattern in the Drosophila larva where the entire CNS has 20 neurons of 3 main types, to cockroaches with about 250 neurons of many different types. Common to all studied insects is the presence or 1-3 pairs of LK-expressing neurosecretory cells in each abdominal neuromere of the ventral nerve cord, that, at least in some insects, regulate secretion in Malpighian tubules. This review summarizes the diverse functional roles of LK signaling in insects, as well as other arthropods and mollusks. These functions include regulation of ion and water homeostasis, feeding, sleep-metabolism interactions, state-dependent memory formation, as well as modulation of gustatory sensitivity and nociception. Other functions are implied by the neuronal distribution of LK, but remain to be investigated.

Physiology, Development, and Disease Modeling in the Drosophila Excretory System

The insect excretory system contains two organ systems acting in concert: the Malpighian tubules and the hindgut perform essential roles in excretion and ionic and osmotic homeostasis. For over 350 years, these two organs have fascinated biologists as a model of organ structure and function. As part of a recent surge in interest, research on the Malpighian tubules and hindgut of Drosophila have uncovered important paradigms of organ physiology and development. Further, many human disease processes can be modeled in these organs. Here, focusing on discoveries in the past 10 years, we provide an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the Drosophila excretory system. We describe the major developmental events that build these organs during embryogenesis, remodel them during metamorphosis, and repair them following injury. Finally, we highlight the use of the Malpighian tubules and hindgut as accessible models of human disease biology. The Malpighian tubule is a particularly excellent model to study rapid fluid transport, neuroendocrine control of renal function, and modeling of numerous human renal conditions such as kidney stones, while the hindgut provides an outstanding model for processes such as the role of cell chirality in development, nonstem cell-based injury repair, cancer-promoting processes, and communication between the intestine and nervous system.

Localization of glutamate-like immunoreactive neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system of the adult and developing pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis

We investigated the distribution and projection patterns of central and peripheral glutamate-like immunoreactive (GLU-LIR) neurons in the adult and developing nervous system of Lymnaea. Altogether, 50-60 GLU-LIR neurons are present in the adult central nervous system. GLU-LIR labeling is shown in the interganglionic bundle system and at the varicosities in neuropil of the central ganglia. In the periphery, the foot, lip, and tentacle contain numerous GLU-LIR bipolar sensory neurons. In the juvenile Lymnaea, GLU-LIR elements at the periphery display a pattern of distribution similar to that seen in adults, whereas labeled neurons increase in number in the different ganglia of the central nervous system from juvenile stage P1 up to adulthood. During embryogenesis, GLU-LIR innervation can be detected first at the 50% stage of embryonic development (the E50% stage) in the neuropil of the cerebral and pedal ganglia, followed by the emergence of labeled pedal nerve roots at the E75% stage. Before hatching, at the E90% stage, a few GLU-LIR sensory cells can be found in the caudal foot region. Our findings indicate a wide range of occurrence and a broad role for glutamate in the gastropod nervous system; hence they provide a basis for future studies on glutamatergic events in networks underlying different behaviors.

Immunological localization of Tritonia peptide in the central and peripheral nervous system of the terrestrial snail Helix aspersa

We report here evidence that the pedal peptides (Peps) first discovered in mollusks may be neurotransmitters with a general role in control of molluscan somatic and visceral muscles. Using Tritonia peptide (TPep) antiserum we obtained morphological evidence for such a role in Helix aspersa. We localized 1,200-1,400 small and medium-sized (5-40 microm) TPep-IR neurons in the central nervous system of Helix and demonstrated the presence of these neurons in each ganglion. Many TPep-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were motoneurons that sent axons to almost all peripheral nerves. TPep-IR fibers innervated the foot, esophagus, hermaphroditic duct, optic tentacles, salivary gland, heart, and proximal and distal aorta. In peripheral tissues TPep-IR fiber ramifications were mostly associated with muscles and with ciliated epithelia. In addition, TPep-IR fibers were in the neuropil of the ganglia, the commissures, and the connectives, and they formed axosomatic terminals in the central nervous system. TPep-IR neurons were found in the esophagus and hermaphroditic duct and as sensory receptors in the bulb of the optic tentacles. These results from Helix, and those reported elsewhere from other mollusks, suggest a general involvement of TPep-like substances in control of muscle- and ciliary-driven motor activities, including perhaps their antecedent sensory and central axosomatic integrative activity.

Functional analysis of a G protein-coupled receptor from the southern cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) identifies it as the first arthropod myokinin receptor

The myokinins are invertebrate neuropeptides with myotropic and diuretic activity. The lymnokinin receptor from the snail Lymnaea stagnalis (Mollusca) has been the only previously identified myokinin receptor. We had cloned a G protein-coupled receptor (AF228521) from the tick Boophilus microplus (Arthropoda: Acari), 40% identical to the lymnokinin receptor, that we have now expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Myokinins at nanomolar concentrations induced intracellular calcium release, as measured by fluorescent cytometry and the receptor coupled to a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein. Absence of extracellular calcium did not inhibit the fluorescence response, indicating that intracellular stores were sufficient for the initial response. Control cells only transfected with vector did not respond. We conclude that the tick receptor is the first myokinin receptor to be cloned from an arthropod.

Characterization of a leucokinin binding protein in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Malpighian tubule

The insect myokinin (leucokinin-like) neuropeptide family includes peptides that have different physiological effects such as the induction of hindgut myotropic activity and stimulation of urine production. The C-terminal pentamer of myokinins Phe-X-(Ser/Pro/Ala)-Trp-Gly-amide [X=Phe, His, Asn, Ser or Tyr], had been previously determined as the minimum fragment able to elicit a functional response. The receptor(s) for these insect neuropeptides has not yet been identified. In order to characterize the Malpighian tubule leucokinin-like peptide receptor(s) from the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), a leucokinin photoaffinity analogue (LPA) of sequence dAla-dTyr-Bpa-dLys-Phe-Phe-Ser-Trp-Gly-amide was designed based on structure/activity relationships for leucokinins. LPA caused depolarization of the transepithelial voltage (TEV) in female Malpighian tubule, confirming the activity of the peptide. The effective concentration to give half the maximum depolarization (EC(50)) was 17 nM. The (125)I-LPA was then used to characterize leucokinin binding proteins in female Malpighian tubule membranes. It specifically labeled and saturated a protein(s) of about 54 kDa as shown by SDS-PAGE/autoradiography and by competition experiments with excess unlabeled leucokinin analogues. (125)I-LPA bound to the 54 kDa protein(s) with a K(d) value of 13+/-3 nM in agreement with the EC(50) for the TEV bioassay. Altogether these data suggest that the 54 kDa protein is an Aedes-leucokinin receptor. This is the first characterization of an insect leucokinin receptor and reveals that LPA is a powerful tool to label insect myokinin receptors.

Cloning and transcriptional expression of a leucokinin-like peptide receptor from the southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Leucokinins are invertebrate neuropeptides that exhibit myotropic and diuretic activity. Only one leucokinin-like peptide receptor is known, the lymnokinin receptor from the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis. A cDNA encoding a leucokinin-like peptide receptor was cloned from the Southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, a pest of cattle world-wide. This is the first neuropeptide receptor known from the Acari and the second known in the subfamily of leucokinin-like peptide G-protein-coupled receptors. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 40% identity to the lymnokinin receptor. The receptor transcript is present in all tick life stages as determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We also propose that the sequence AAF50775.1 from the Drosophila melanogaster genome (CG10626) encodes the first identified insect leucokinin receptor.

Topographic organization of efferent neurons with different neurochemical characters in the cerebral ganglia of the snail Helix pomatia

This study provides a description of the organization of neurons efferent to different head areas in the cerebral ganglia of Helix pomatia, revealed by simultaneous Ni-lysine and Co-lysine back-filling of different pairs of cerebral nerves. The backfills show that labeled cerebral neurons that innervate the head areas are concentrated in seven representation foci distributed in different parts of the cerebral ganglia. Almost each head area is represented in each focus. At a gross level, the representation of the different head areas in the representation foci shows a topographic arrangement. Each focus is constituted by neurochemically different groups of neurons. All head areas are innervated by serotonin-containing fibers from a single focus (Focus 2) and by dopamine-containing fibers from Foci 1, 2, and 4. However, they are innervated by CARP and FMRFamide-containing fibers from all of the foci. The combination of retrograde labeling with 5, 6-dihydroxytriptamine induced pigment labeling of serotonin-containing neurons or with fluorescence tyrosinehydroxylase immunocytochemistry to detect dopamine-containing neurons showed that the different head areas are topographycally represented in the clusters of both the serotonin- and dopamine-containing cells. The combination of Ni-lysine backfillings from different cerebral nerves with fluorescence CARP and FMRFamide immunocytochemistry revealed that the head areas are represented also in both the CARP and FMRFamide immunoreactive groups of neurons in the different foci.

The kinin peptide family in invertebrates

Kinins comprise a family of peptides that were first found in the central nervous system of insects and recently also in mollusks and crustaceans. After the isolation of the first members of the kinin family, the leukokinins from Leucophaea maderae, leukokinin-related peptides were found in the cricket Acheta domesticus and the locust Locusta migratoria, all through their ability to induce Leucophaea maderae hindgut contraction. Subsequently, kinins were found in the mosquitoes Culex salinarius and Aedes aegypti and in the earworm Helicoverpa zea. The first noninsect member of this family was isolated from a mollusk, the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Most recently our group has isolated the first kinins from crustaceans. Six kinins were isolated from the white shrimp Penaeus vannamei. To date, 35 members of this family have been isolated. The first relatively small family of insect kinins has grown into an expanding and rather large family with members in insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. In this paper we discuss the kinin family in terms of method of isolation, structure, in vitro and in vivo activity, distribution, receptors, and signal transduction. We will compare the crustacean and insect members of the kinin family, using the data available on crustacea.

Oscillatory dynamics and information processing in olfactory systems

Oscillatory dynamics is a universal design feature of olfactory information-processing systems. Recent results in honeybees and terrestrial slugs suggest that oscillations underlie temporal patterns of olfactory interneuron responses critical for odor discrimination. Additional general design features in olfactory information-processing systems include (1) the use of central processing areas receiving direct olfactory input for odor memory storage and (2) modulation of circuit dynamics and olfactory memory function by nitric oxide. Recent results in the procerebral lobe of the terrestrial slug Limax maximus, an olfactory analyzer with oscillatory dynamics and propagating activity waves, suggest that Lucifer Yellow can be used to reveal a band-shaped group of procerebral neurons involved in the storage of an odor memory. A model has been constructed to relate wave propagation and odor memory bands in the procerebral lobe of L. maximus and to relate these findings to glomerular odor representations in arthropods and vertebrates.

Tachykinin-related peptides in invertebrates: a review

Peptides with sequence similarities to members of the tachykinin family have been identified in a number of invertebrates belonging to the mollusca, echiuridea, insecta and crustacea. These peptides have been designated tachykinin-related peptides (TRPs) and are characterized by the preserved C-terminal pentapeptide FX1GX2Ramide (X1 and X2 are variable residues). All invertebrate TRPs are myostimulatory on insect hindgut muscle, but also have a variety of additional actions: they can induce contractions in cockroach foregut and oviduct and in moth heart muscle, trigger a motor rhythm in the crab stomatogastric ganglion, depolarize or hyperpolarize identified interneurons of locust and the snail Helix and induce release of adipokinetic hormone from the locust corpora cardiaca. Two putative TRP receptors have been cloned from Drosophila; both are G-protein coupled and expressed in the nervous system. The invertebrate TRPs are distributed in interneurons of the CNS of Limulus, crustaceans and insects. In the latter two groups TRPs are also present in the stomatogastric nervous system and in insects endocrine cells of the midgut display TRP-immunoreactivity. In arthropods the distribution of TRPs in neuronal processes of the brain displays similar patterns. Also in coelenterates, flatworms and molluscs TRPs have been demonstrated in neurons. The activity of different TRPs has been explored in several assays and it appears that an amidated C-terminal hexapeptide (or longer) is required for bioactivity. In many invertebrate assays the first generation substance P antagonist spantide I is a potent antagonist of invertebrate TRPs and substance P. Locustatachykinins stimulate adenylate cyclase in locust interneurons and glandular cells of the corpora cardiaca, but in other tissues the putative second messenger systems have not yet been identified. The heterologously expressed Drosophila TRP receptors coupled to the phospholipase C pathway and could induce elevations of inositol triphosphate. The structures, distributions and actions of TRPs in various invertebrates are compared and it is concluded that the TRPs are multifunctional peptides with targets both in the central and peripheral nervous system and other tissues, similar to vertebrate tachykinins. Invertebrate TRPs may also be involved in developmental processes.

Morphology of interneurons in the procerebrum of the snail Helix aspersa

Terrestrial snails have a highly developed sense of olfaction. Because the procerebrum has a large number of cells and is located at the entry site of the olfactory nerve into the brain, the structure is thought to have a significant role in the processing of olfactory stimuli. The morphology of the procerebral neurons in the snail Helix aspersa was investigated through intracellular injections of biocytin. No formal categorization of neuronal types was possible, but some cells were seen to have neurites entirely intrinsic to the procerebrum, whereas others had both intrinsic and extrinsic arborizations, and still others had only extrinsic arborizations. These interneurons were previously thought to have arborizations restricted to the procerebral lobe. We demonstrated the extent of the neurite projections outside of the procerebral lobe by making focal injections of biocytin or Neurobiotin into various regions of the cerebral ganglion. This technique revealed subsets of cells that send neurites not only in the ipsilateral ganglion but also through the cerebral commissure into the contralateral cerebral ganglion. Our results demonstrate not only that the procerebral cell population is heterogeneous but also that the procerebrum interacts more directly with the rest of the central nervous system than was formerly believed.

Cloning, characterization, and expression of a G-protein-coupled receptor from Lymnaea stagnalis and identification of a leucokinin-like peptide, PSFHSWSamide, as its endogenous ligand

Neuropeptides are known to be important signaling molecules in several neural systems of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. Although the functions of these peptides have been studied in many neurons, the nature of the postsynaptic signal transduction is mainly unknown. The cloning and characterization of neuropeptide receptors in Lymnaea thus would be very valuable in further elucidating peptidergic pathways. Indirect evidence suggests that these neuropeptides operate via G-protein-coupled mechanisms indicating the presence of G-protein-coupled receptors as the initial postsynaptic targets. Here we describe the cloning of a neuropeptide receptor from Lymnaea and the isolation of an endogenous ligand. This peptide, PSFHSWSamide, belongs to the leucokinin family of peptides, and, thus, this Lymnaea receptor is the first example of a leucokinin-like neuropeptide receptor, representing a new subfamily of G-protein-coupled neuropeptide receptors.

Neuropeptides implicated in the control of diuresis in insects

Primary urine production in insect Malpighian tubules is stimulated by two classes of neuropeptides, CRF-related diuretic peptides and insect kinins. The CRF-related peptide of the locust, Locusta migratoria, has a hormonal role in the control of postfeeding diuresis, but the functional role of the kinins has yet to be defined. The two classes of peptide act synergistically to stimulate tubule secretion, and the kinins may therefore have a modulatory action in the control of diuresis. The peptides differ in their effects on Malpighian tubule ion transport, and this could be important for the regulation of hemolymph volume and composition.

In vitro capsaicin-induced cytological changes and alteration in calcium distribution in giant serotonergic neurons of the snail Helix pomatia: a light- and electron-microscopic study

Morphological changes induced by capsaicin were studied in the serotonergic metacerebral giant neurons of the cerebral ganglia of Helix pomatia under in vitro conditions. Capsaicin at a concentration of 10(-4)M caused characteristic structural alterations in the giant serotonergic neurons but did not significantly influence serotonin immunoreactivity in the neurons. At the light-microscopic level, the most conspiciuous structural alterations were swelling of the cell bodies, which contained a swollen pale nucleus. Under the electron microscope, the nuclei, mitochondria and the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum were swollen in the capsaicin-affected metacerebral giant neurons. Electron-microscopic cytochemical techniques for calcium demonstration revealed electron-dense deposits in the swollen mitochondria and in the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting an increased Ca2+ influx. The serotonergic metacerebral giant neurons could be labelled by cobalt (1mM) in the presence of capsaicin (10(-4)M) suggesting that capsaicin opens the cation chanels of the capsaicin-sensitive neuronal membrane. The morphological and cytochemical alterations induced by capsaicin in the serotonergic metacerebral giant neurons of Helix pomatia closely resemble those induced in sensory neurons of mammalian dorsal root ganglion.

Correlation of axon projections and peptide immunoreactivity in mesocerebral neurons of the snail Helix aspersa

The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the organization of efferent neurons in the mesocerebrum of a terrestrial snail. The mesocerebrum is one of three regions, or lobes, that can be identified by gross inspection. Previous studies have indicated a possible function for the mesocerebrum in the control of mating behavior. We used both anterograde and retrograde tracing methods to determine the axon projections of mesocerebral neurons. Virtually all the neurons (96%) send an axon into the cerebropedal connective nerve, and about 25% of these fibers continue into the nervus cutaneous pedalis primus dexter, which innervates the dart sac. Many neurons have additional axon branches in other nerves, especially the penial nerve, which receives projections from about 25% of mesocerebral cells. Neurons that are backfilled from the nervus cutaneus pedalis primus dexter are predominantly immunoreactive for FMRF amide, whereas neurons that are backfilled from the penial nerve are predominately immunoreactive for APGWamide. These results suggest a functional association between FMRFamide and dart shooting on the one hand, and between APGWamide and penial eversion on the other. Some cells contain both APGWamide and FMRFamide; these cells may have dual projections in both the penial nerve and the nervus cutaneous pedalis primus dexter.

Tachykinin-related neuropeptides in the central nervous system of the snail Helix pomatia: an immunocytochemical study

The distribution of neurons reacting with an antibody raised against an insect neuropeptide, locustatachykinin I, was investigated in the CNS of the snail Helix pomatia. The localization of the neurons was compared with that of the substance P-like immunoreactive (SPLI) neurons in the different ganglia. Altogether, there are approximately 800-1000 locustatachykinin-like immunoreactive (LomTKLI) neurons in the Helix CNS, occurring with an overwhelming dominancy (83.5%) in the cerebral ganglia. Within the cerebral ganglia, the majority of LomTKLI neurons were localized in the procerebrum. The number of SPLI neurons was high; approximately 2000 SPLI nerve cells were found in the Helix CNS. The majority (44.5%) of SPLI neurons was also found in the cerebral ganglia and they were also concentrated in the procerebrum. The neuropils of all ganglia were densely innervated by both LomTKLI and SPLI fibers except the medullary mass of the procerebrum where only SPLI elements form an extremely dense innervation. In addition to the neutrophil processes, LomTKLI neurons sent axon processes to the peripheral nerves. SPLI fibers also formed a dense network of varicose fibers in the connective tissue sheath around the ganglia where they innervated the blood vessel walls too. Immunolabeling on alternating cryostat sections revealed that LomTKLI and SPLI neurons are localized near each other in most cases; co-localization of the two immunoreactive materials could be seen in a very small number of neurons of the pedal and pleural ganglia. The present results show that the Helix CNS possesses distinct neuronal populations using different tachykinin-related peptides. It is suggested that the differential distribution of these neuropeptides also implies a diversity in their central and peripheral functions.