Patterns in the nervous and muscle systems in lower flatworms

Citation
M. Reuter et al., Patterns in the nervous and muscle systems in lower flatworms, BELG J ZOOL, 131, 2001, pp. 47-53
Citations number
20
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences
Journal title
BELGIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
ISSN journal
0777-6276 → ACNP
Volume
131
Year of publication
2001
Supplement
1
Pages
47 - 53
Database
ISI
SICI code
0777-6276(200104)131:<47:PITNAM>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
In order to test the monophyly of the Plathelminthes and the phylogenetic r elationships of Acoela and Nemertodermatida., studies on the neuroanatomy o f these groups were performed using anti-serotonin (5-HT) and anti-FMRF rel ated peptides (FaRPs) immunocytochemistry. The Catenulida + Rhabditophora s eem to be monophyletic. Four synapomorphies are proposed for these taxa. Th e presence of: 1. a bilobed brain showing 5-HF- and FaRP immunoreactivity. 2. a distinct neuropile, showing 5-HT and FaRP immunoreactivity. 3. two mai n nerve cords (MC's) aligned by 5-HT-immunoreactive (IR) marker neurones, 4 . FaRP-immunoreactivity in the stomatogastric nervous system (NS). No synap omorphies were detected between Acoela and other Plathelminthes. The IR pat terns of Acoela are characterised by: 1. The presence of a 5-HT-IR commissu ral brain. 2. The presence of clusters of FaRP-IR cells not integrated into a brain of the flatworm type. 3. The absence of a regular orthogon. 4. The absence of serotoninergic marker neurones along the main nerve cords (MC's ). 5. The absence of a stomatogastric FaRP positive nervous system (NS). No support was obtained for a taxon Acoelomorpha. Our data are compatible wit h the hypothesis that both the Acoela and the Nemertodermatida do not belon g to the Plathelminthes.