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Immunocytochemical Investigations of the Infundibular Organ in Amphioxus ( Branchiostoma lanceolatum ; Cephalochordata)
Author(s) -
Sterba Günther,
Fredriksson Gunnar,
Olsson Ragnar
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.1983.tb00793.x
Subject(s) - subcommissural organ , chordate , biology , secretion , anatomy , neurosecretion , vertebrate , antiserum , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , endocrinology , genetics , antigen , gene
Reissner's fibre (RF) is an extraordinary ancient feature of the chordate central nervous system. In vertebrates the RF material is released by the cells of the subcommissural organ (SCO) situated in the roof of the brain. In cephalochordates the RF forming apparatus is the infundibular organ (IFO), a structure in the floor of the brain vesicle. Both the SCO and the IFO are areas of specialized secretory ependymal cells. Recently the SCO‐secretion of many vertebrate species has been studied immunocytochemically by use of different antisera against RF‐material from cows. The present investigation with the PAP‐technique showed that these antisera give a positive immunocytochemical reaction with the secretion of the IFO of amphioxus. The results indicate molecular similarities of compounds present in both the SCO‐secretion and the IFO‐secretion. The conception that the SCO and the IFO are descendants from a single large glandular area in the brain vesicle of an ancient chordate ancestor is emphasized by these findings