Differential localization of vasopressin- and oxytocin-immunoreactive cells and conventional neurosecretory cells in the ganglia of the earthwormPheretima hilgendorfi

Molecular cloning of cDNA for lysenin, a novel protein in the earthworm Eisenia foetida that causes contraction of rat vascular smooth muscle

Lysenin, which causes contraction of rat vascular smooth muscle, is a protein that was isolated from the earthworm Eisenia foetida. A cDNA encoding lysenin was isolated by use of a partial cDNA probe that had been generated by the PCR with a primer designed by reference to an internal peptide sequence of lysenin. This clone had an ORF encoding 297 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA revealed the absence of any significant homology to those of previously characterized vasoactive substances. The recombinant lysenin was produced in Escherichia coli. This protein and native lysenin isolated from the earthworm had similar contractive activities when tested on rat aorta. Northern blot analysis of the RNA from various tissues of the earthworm indicated that lysenin is produced by the coelomocytes.

Annetocin, an annelid oxytocin-related peptide, induces egg-laying behavior in the earthworm, Eisenia foetida

Annetocin, an oxytocin-related peptide which we isolated from the earthworm Eisenia foetida, induced a series of egg-laying-related behaviors in the earthworms. These stereotyped behaviors consisted of well-defined rotatory movements, characteristic body-shape changes, and mucous secretion from the clitellum. Each of these behaviors is known to be associated with formation of the cocoon in which eggs are deposited. In fact, some of the earthworms injected with annetocin (> 5 nmol) laid eggs. Such egg-laying-related behaviors except for oviposition were also induced by oxytocin, but not by Arg-vasopressin and some other bioactive peptides isolated from E. foetida. Furthermore, annetocin also induced these egg-laying-like behaviors in the leech Whitmania pigra, but not in the polychaete Perinereis vancaurica. These results suggest that annetocin plays some key role in triggering stereotyped egg-laying behaviors in terrestrial or fresh-water annelids that have the clitella.

Immunohistochemical localization of endothelin-1 in the nervous system of the earthworm Eisenia foetida

The distribution of a substance that resembles endothelin-1 (ET-1) was examined immunohistochemically in the nervous system of the earthworm, Eisenia foetida, using antiserum against ET-1. In the cerebral ganglion, ET-1-like immunoreactivity was demonstrated in two to three pairs of neurons located in the peripheral portion. These immunoreactive neurons projected axons toward the neuropile located in the central portion of the ganglion. Immunoreactive fibers were distributed in the neuropile and proceeded posteriorly to the subesophageal ganglion through the circumpharyngeal connective. In the subesophageal ganglion, no immunoreactive cell bodies were detected, although the immunoreactive fibers were found in the neuropile. In each segmental ganglion, two to eight immunoreactive neurons were observed on each side of the caudo-ventral portion and these neurons sent axons ipsilaterally to the fiber tracts. The pattern of distribution of the immunoreactive neurons in the segmental ganglion was almost identical from one segment to the next. No immunoreactivity was detected in the nerve tracts that emerge peripherally from the cerebral, subesophageal, and segmental ganglia or in other organs, such as the digestive tract and the integument. Specific immunoreactivity to antiserum raised against corticotropin-releasing factor (1-20) was not detected in the nervous system of Eisenia.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of S-100 protein in the brain neurosecretory cells of invertebrates (insects and earthworms)

This immunohistochemical study demonstrated the presence of S-100 protein (-like substance) in the nervous systems of some invertebrate animals. The immunoreactivity of S-100 protein was detected in some neurosecretory cells, but not in glial cells in the brains (cerebral ganglia) of silkworms, cockroaches and earthworms. The immunoreactive nerve fibers extended to the neurohemal organs. These results suggested the possibility that S-100 protein (-like substance) may act as a neurohormone or carrier protein in invertebrate animals.

Phylogenetic study of the oxytocin-like immunoreactive system in invertebrates

1. A phylogenetic study of oxytocin (OXT)-like immunoreactive cells was performed by the PAP method in the central nervous system of invertebrates. 2. The immunoreactivity was detected in the nerve cells of Hydra magnipapillata of the Coelenterata; Neanthes japonica and Pheretima communissima of the Annelida; Oncidium verrucosum, Limax marginatus and Meretrix lamarckii of the Mollusca; and Baratha brassica of the Arthropoda. 3. No immunoreactive cells were found in Bipalium sp. of the Platyhelminthes; Pomacea canaliculata, Aplysia kurodai, Bradybaena similaris and Achatina fulica of the Mollusca; and Gnorimosphaeroma rayi, Procambarus clarkii, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, Helice tridens and Gryllus bimaculatus of the Arthropoda; Asterina pectinifera of the Echinodermata; and Halocynthia roretzi of the Protochordata. 4. These results demonstrate that an OXT-immunoreactive substance is widely present not only in vertebrates but also in invertebrates. 5. OXT seems to have been introduced into these invertebrates at an early stage of their phylogenetic history.

Phylogenetic study of the arginine-vasotocin/arginine-vasopressin-like immunoreactive system in invertebrates

1. A phylogenetic study of arg-vasotocin (AVT)/arg-vasopressin (AVP)-like immunoreactive cells was performed by the PAP method in the central nervous system of invertebrates. 2. The immunoreactivity was detected in the nerve cells of Hydra magnipapillata of the Coelenterata; Neanthes japonica and Pheretima communissima of the Annelida; Pomacea canaliculata, Aplysia kurodai, Oncidium verrucosum, Bradybaena similaris, Achatina fulica, Limax marginatus and Meretrix lamarckii of the Mollusca; Gnorimosphaeroma rayi, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, Gryllus bimaculatus and Baratha brassicae of the Arthropoda; Asterina pectinifera of the Echinodermata; and Halocynthia roretzi of the Protochordata. 3. No immunoreactivity was detected in Bipalium sp. of the Platyhelminthes, or in Procambarus clarkii and Helice tridens of the Arthropoda. 4. From these results, it appears that AVT/AVP is a phylogenetically ancient peptide which is present in a wide variety of invertebrates. 5. The actions of AVT/AVP and its presence in invertebrates are discussed.