New Gland Type Discovered in Cestodes: Neurosecretory Neurons Release a Secret into the Fish Host

Abstract

Abstract—Free endings of peripheral neurosecretory neurons (NNs) were found in the tegument of plerocercoids of five species of parasitic cestodes of fish in an ultrastructural study. The free terminals secreted vesicles on the tegument surface and into the host body. Secretion was experimentally shown to increase in response to the host fish blood serum. In the cestode body, NNs form paracrine-type contacts near the cell membranes of the frontal glands, the tegument, and muscles, functioning as endocrine glands. Simultaneously, NNs function as exocrine glands and secrete the so-called manipulative factors, which influence the physiology of the host.

The muscle and neural architecture of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci revisited; implications on head-tail polarization of the larvae

“…This has led to the description of the anatomy of the nervous systems in different cestode species. More recently, staining of these molecules with antibodies has revealed novel “neuro-exocrine” traits, including secretory glands releasing excretory/secretory (ES) products through the tegumental surface in contact with the host ( Biserova et al., 2023a , Biserova et al., 2023b ).…”

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“…This has led to the description of the anatomy of the nervous systems in different cestode species. More recently, staining of these molecules with antibodies has revealed novel "neuro-exocrine" traits, including secretory glands releasing excretory/secretory (ES) products through the tegumental surface in contact with the host (Biserova et al, 2023a, Biserova et al, 2023b.…”