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Immunocytochemical evidence for biogenic amines and immunogold labeling of serotonergic synapses in tentacles of Aiptasia pallida (Cnidaria, Anthozoa)
Author(s) -
Westfall Jane A.,
Elliott Scott R.,
MohanKumar P.S.,
Carlin Ryan W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
invertebrate biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.486
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1744-7410
pISSN - 1077-8306
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2000.tb00105.x
Subject(s) - biology , cnidaria , anthozoa , ecology , coral
. Evidence for classical neurotransmitters in sea anemones remains controversial. We used high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC‐EC) and electron microscopical imunocytochemistry to determine the presence of serotonin and precursor synthetic enzymes of other biogenic amines in tentacles of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida. Using HPLC‐EC we found dopamine and serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) in both tentacles and whole animal homogenates. Antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine β‐hydroxylase, phenylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase, and 5‐HT were used with the peroxidase‐antiperoxidase method to reveal positive immunoreactivity to these substances in neurons of tentacles. Immunogold labeling of serial thin sections with the anti‐5–HT antibody revealed reactive products in synaptic vesicles at interneuronal, neuromuscular, and neurospirocyte synapses. These results suggest that both catecholamine and indolamine neurotransmitters occur in sea anemones in addition to the neuropeptide Antho‐RFamide, indicating the presence of multiple types of transmitter substances in an early nervous system.