Cnidarian chemical neurotransmission, an updated overview
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-2007
Abstract
The ultrastructural, histochemical, immunocytochemical, biochemical, molecular, behavioral and physiological evidence for non-peptidergic and peptidergic chemical neurotransmission in the Anthozoa, Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa and Cubozoa is surveyed. With the possible exception of data for the catecholamines and peptides in some animals, the set of cumulative data - the evidence from all methodologies - is incomplete. Taken together, the evidence from all experimental approaches suggests that both classical fast (acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA, glycine) and slow (catecholamines and serotonin) transmitters, as well as neuropeptides, are involved in cnidarian neurotransmission. Ultrastructural evidence for peptidergic, serotonergic, and catecholaminergic synaptic localization is available, but the presence of clear and dense-cored synaptic vesicles also suggests both fast and slow classical transmission. Immunocytochemical studies, in general, reveal a continuous, non-localized distribution of neuropeptides, suggesting a neuromodulatory role for them. Immunocytochemical and biochemical studies indicate the presence of glutamate, GABA, serotonin, catecholamines (and/or their receptors), RFamides, nitric oxide and eicosanoids in cnidarian neurons and tissues. Gene sequences for peptidergic preprohormones have been reported; putative gene homologies to receptor proteins for vertebrate transmitters have been found in Hydra. Behavioral and physiological studies implicate classical transmitters, neuropeptides, eicosanoids and nitric oxide in the coordination of the neuroeffector systems. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Volume
146
Issue
1
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Kass-Simon, G., and Paola Pierobon. "Cnidarian chemical neurotransmission, an updated overview." Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology 146, 1 (2007): 9-25. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.09.008.