Catecholamine-containing, serotonin-like, and FMRFamide-like immunoreactive neurons and processes in the nervous system of the early actinotroch larva of Phoronis vancouverensis (Phoronida): distribution and development

Abstract

The distribution and development of neurons and nerve processes containing the putative neurotransmitters catecholamines (CA), serotonin-like immunoreactivity (5-HT-ir), and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity (FMRFamide-ir) have been investigated by means of glyoxylic acid induced fluorescence in CA and antibodies against 5-HT and FMRFamide in the 0- to 6-tentacle actinotroch larvae of Phoronis vancouverensis Pixell, 1912. CA and 5-HT-ir were observed in the apical ganglion at all stages (beginning at the early 0-tentacle stage); FMRFamide-ir appeared first at the late 0-tentacle stage. The CA-containing cells are located in a ring at the periphery of the apical ganglion, whereas the 5-HT-immunoreactive cells form a U-shaped area in the centre of the epistome. In late 0-tentacle stages, CA, 5-HT-ir, and FMRFamide-ir are found in processes along the future ciliary band of the tentacles and the margin of the epistome. At the 2-tentacle stage, processes are observed in the apical ganglion extending from the neuropil towards the tentacles and the margin of the epistome. At the 4- to 6-tentacle stage, processes loosely concentrated in large bundles are found along the epistome margin projecting on the ventral side of the mesosome towards the tentacles (CA, 5-HT-ir, and FMRFamide-ir), extending from the apical ganglion towards the tentacles (5-HT-ir and FMRFamide-ir), along the ciliary band of the tentacles (CA, 5-HT-ir, and FMRFamide-ir), and along the posterior ciliary band (CA, 5-HT-ir, and FMRFamide-ir).