Neurosensory and neuromuscular organization in tube feet of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.
J Comp Neurol
; 519(17): 3566-79, 2011 Dec 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21800307
ABSTRACT
Several behavioral and electrophysiological studies indicate that all classes of echinoderms, including Echinoidia, the class to which sea urchins belong, are photosensitive and exhibit complex behavioral responses to light or changes in light intensity. However, no discrete photosensitive structure has been identified in sea urchins. The purpose of this study was to provide new insights into eye evolution by determining whether distinct photosensory structures are present in adult sea urchins. Recently, we showed that the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus genome contains orthologs of many mammalian retinal genes and that these genes are expressed in tube feet, suggesting the presence of photoreceptor neurons. To determine whether this is so, we identified several features of tube feet that relate to a possible invertebrate phototransduction system. We show that rhabdomeric opsin is expressed severalfold higher within the disk region of the tube feet and is the most abundant opsin. Immunostaining identified ßIII-tubulin-expressing cells at the periphery of disk in the vicinity of the synaptotagmin-expressing nerve fibers. We also showed that Pax6 expression in the disk was restricted to the periphery, where small clusters of putative sensory neurons reside. Our results reveal neuromuscular organization of the tube foot neuromuscular system. They further support earlier studies suggesting the presence of a photosensory system in tube feet.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Células Receptoras Sensoriales
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Células Fotorreceptoras de Invertebrados
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Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
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Unión Neuromuscular
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Comp Neurol
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Suiza