Immunohistochemical Analysis of Neuronal Networks in the Nervous System of Octopus vulgaris

Ponte, Giovanna; Fiorito, Graziano

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2313-7_3

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 70 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Whilst octopamine has been demonstrated in the gastric ganglion by histochemistry (Juorio and Molinoff, 1974 ), it has not previously been shown using immunohistochemistry. Our study confirms its presence and distribution for the first time in the ganglion (but see for the octopus brain: Ponte, 2012 ; Ponte and Fiorito, 2015 ). Octopamine-IR is observed in bouton-like structures suggesting the existence of an intricate octopaminergic network in O. vulgaris gastric ganglion.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…This resembles findings in other invertebrates where the octopaminergic distribution in nervous structures has been described in detail (e.g., Kononenko et al, 2009 ). In the octopus' central nervous system octopamine-positive neurons are prominent in some lobes (i.e., basal and peduncle lobes; see Ponte, 2012 ; Ponte and Fiorito, 2015 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To allow detection of noradrenaline and octopamine, we followed the protocol developed by Ponte and Fiorito ( 2015 ) for octopus. In brief, the tissue was fixed (6.25% glutaraldehyde, 75% picric acid, 5% glacial acetic acid, and 1% sodium metabisulfite in distilled water; 3 h), washed in sodium metabisulfite solution (SBM) and dehydrated in an ascending ethanol series until permeabilization (mixture of ethanol/methyl salicylate, 5 min) and then rehydrated in a descending ethanol series (in Tris-HCl-SMB) and embedded in agarose.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The embedded ganglia were then sectioned at 50 μm (Vibratome VT1200S, Leica Microsystems, Germany) and collected as free-floating sections. No antigen retrieval was required (for details see Ponte and Fiorito, 2015 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Gastric Ganglion of Octopus vulgaris: Preliminary Characterization of Gene- and Putative Neurochemical-Complexity, and the Effect of Aggregata octopiana Digestive Tract Infection on Gene Expression

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The gastric ganglion is the largest visceral ganglion in cephalopods. It is connected to the brain and is implicated in regulation of digestive tract functions. Here we have investigated the neurochemical complexity (through in silico gene expression analysis and immunohistochemistry) of the gastric ganglion in Octopus vulgaris and tested whether the expression of a selected number of genes was influenced by the magnitude of digestive tract parasitic infection by Aggregata octopiana. Novel evidence was obtained for putative peptide and non-peptide neurotransmitters in the gastric ganglion: cephalotocin, corticotrophin releasing factor, FMRFamide, gamma amino butyric acid, 5-hydroxytryptamine, molluscan insulin-related peptide 3, peptide PRQFV-amide, and tachykinin–related peptide. Receptors for cholecystokininA and cholecystokininB, and orexin2 were also identified in this context for the first time. We report evidence for acetylcholine, dopamine, noradrenaline, octopamine, small cardioactive peptide related peptide, and receptors for cephalotocin and octopressin, confirming previous publications. The effects of Aggregata observed here extend those previously described by showing effects on the gastric ganglion; in animals with a higher level of infection, genes implicated in inflammation (NFκB, fascin, serpinB10 and the toll-like 3 receptor) increased their relative expression, but TNF-α gene expression was lower as was expression of other genes implicated in oxidative stress (i.e., superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxin 6, and glutathione peroxidase). Elevated Aggregata levels in the octopuses corresponded to an increase in the expression of the cholecystokininA receptor and the small cardioactive peptide-related peptide. In contrast, we observed decreased relative expression of cephalotocin, dopamine β-hydroxylase, peptide PRQFV-amide, and tachykinin-related peptide genes. A discussion is provided on (i) potential roles of the various molecules in food intake regulation and digestive tract motility control and (ii) the difference in relative gene expression in the gastric ganglion in octopus with relatively high and low parasitic loads and the similarities to changes in the enteric innervation of mammals with digestive tract parasites. Our results provide additional data to the described neurochemical complexity of O. vulgaris gastric ganglion.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Gastric Ganglion of Octopus vulgaris: Preliminary Characterization of Gene- and Putative Neurochemical-Complexity, and the Effect of Aggregata octopiana Digestive Tract Infection on Gene Expression

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Noradrenaline and 5-HT are considered to be transported along axons toward the glands from cell bodies in the superior buccal lobe. In analogy, and due to significant quantities of octopamine and tyramine found in the superior buccal lobe (Juorio and Molinoff, 1971 ; Juorio and Philips, 1975 ; Ponte and Fiorito, 2015 ), these amines appears to be transported to the glands where they are released on nerve stimulation.…”

Section: Physiology Of the Salivary Glandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salivary Glands in Predatory Mollusks: Evolutionary Considerations

Ponte

Modica

2017

Front. Physiol.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many marine mollusks attain or increase their predatory efficiency using complex chemical secretions, which are often produced and delivered through specialized anatomical structures of the foregut. The secretions produced in venom glands of Conus snails and allies have been extensively studied, revealing an amazing chemical diversity of small, highly constrained neuropeptides, whose characterization led to significant pharmacological developments. Conversely, salivary glands, the other main secretory structures of molluscan foregut, have been neglected despite their shared occurrence in the two lineages including predatory members: Gastropoda and Cephalopoda. Over the last few years, the interest for the chemistry of salivary mixtures increased based on their potential biomedical applications. Recent investigation with -omics technologies are complementing the classical biochemical descriptions, that date back to the 1950s, highlighting the high level of diversification of salivary secretions in predatory mollusks, and suggesting they can be regarded as a pharmaceutical cornucopia. As with other animal venoms, some of the salivary toxins are reported to target, for example, sodium and/or potassium ion channels or receptors and transporters for neurotransmitters such as, glutamate, serotonin, neurotensin, and noradrenaline, thus manipulating the neuromuscular system of the preys. Other bioactive components possess anticoagulant, anesthetic and hypotensive activities. Here, we overview available knowledge on the salivary glands of key predatory molluscan taxa, gastropods, and cephalopods, summarizing their anatomical, physiological and biochemical complexity in order to facilitate future comparative studies on main evolutionary trends and functional convergence in the acquisition of successful predatory strategies.

show abstract