Distribution of 3H-GABA uptake sites in the nematode Ascaris

Journal Article · Wed May 22 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Comparative Neurology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903070407· OSTI ID:5266600

Guastella, J; Stretton, A O ^[1]

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1. University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA)

The distribution of uptake sites for the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the nematode Ascaris suum was examined by autoradiography of 3H-GABA uptake. Single neural processes in both the ventral and dorsal nerve cords were labeled with 3H-GABA. Serial section analysis identified the cells of origin of these processes as the RMEV-like and RMED-like neurons. These cells belong to a set of four neurons in the nerve ring, all of which are labeled by 3H-GABA. 3H-GABA labeling of at least two other sets of cephalic neurons was seen. One of these pairs consists of medium-sized lateral ganglia neurons, located at the level of the amphid commissure bundle. A second pair is located in the lateral ganglia at the level of the deirid commissure bundle. The position and size of these lateral ganglia cells suggest that they are the GABA-immunoreactive lateral ganglia cells frequently seen in whole-mount immunocytochemical preparations. Four neuronal cell bodies located in the retrovesicular ganglion were also labeled with 3H-GABA. These cells, which are probably cholinergic excitatory motor neurons, do not contain detectable GABA-like immunoreactivity. Heavy labeling of muscle cells was also observed. The ventral and dorsal nerve cord inhibitory motor neurons, which are known to contain GABA-like immunoreactivity, were not labeled above background with 3H-GABA. Together with the experiments reported previously, these results define three classes of GABA-associated neurons in Ascaris: (1) neurons that contain endogenous GABA and possess a GABA uptake system; (2) neurons that contain endogenous GABA, but that either lack a GABA uptake system or possess a GABA uptake system of low activity; (3) neurons that possess a GABA uptake system, but that lack endogenous GABA.

• OSTI ID: 5266600
• Journal Information: Journal of Comparative Neurology; (United States), Vol. 307:4; ISSN 0021-9967
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINOBUTYRIC ACID
RECEPTORS
ASCARIS
BIOCHEMISTRY
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
NERVE CELLS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMAL CELLS
ASCARIDAE
ASCHELMINTHES
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMISTRY
DISTRIBUTION
DRUGS
HELMINTHS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
KINETICS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
NEMATODES
NEUROREGULATORS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PROTEINS
REACTION KINETICS
SOMATIC CELLS
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques