The presence and distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine during the developmental stages of the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, with emphasis on settlement organs
Issued Date
2023-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
0302766X
eISSN
14320878
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85146877903
Pubmed ID
36697719
Journal Title
Cell and Tissue Research
Volume
391
Issue
3
Start Page
457
End Page
483
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Cell and Tissue Research Vol.391 No.3 (2023) , 457-483
Suggested Citation
Nontunha N., Tinikul R., Chaichotranunt S., Poomtong T., Sobhon P., Tinikul Y. The presence and distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine during the developmental stages of the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, with emphasis on settlement organs. Cell and Tissue Research Vol.391 No.3 (2023) , 457-483. 483. doi:10.1007/s00441-023-03739-9 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82380
Title
The presence and distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine during the developmental stages of the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, with emphasis on settlement organs
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
In the sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra, the competent larvae require main settlement organs (SOs), including the ciliary bands (CiBs), tentacles (Ts), podia (PDs), and cues from neurotransmitters, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine (DA), for successful settlement. In the present study, we investigated the spatial distribution of GABA and DA in the developmental stages of H. scabra, with special emphasis on SOs by detecting immunoreactivity (-ir) against these two neurotransmitters. Strong GABA-ir and DA-ir cells and fibers were specifically detected in several SO structures, including CiBs, CiB cells (CiBCs), and long cilia (LCi), of H. scabra larvae. Additionally, we found intense GABA-ir and DA-ir cells in the epithelial lining of bud-papillae (BP) and mesothelium (Me) in the stem (S) region of Ts in larvae and juveniles. Intense GABA-ir and DA-ir were observed in the epineural nerve plexus (ENP) and hyponeural nerve plexus (HNP) of Ts in H. scabra pentactula and juvenile stages. Staining for these two neurotransmitters was particularly intense in the PDs and their nerve fibers. We also found significant changes in the numbers of GABA-ir and DA-ir-positive cells and intensities in the CiBs, Ts, and PDs during the developmental stages. Taken together, we are the first to report on the existence and distribution of GABAergic and dopaminergic systems in structures associated with the settlement. Our findings provide new and important insights into the possible functions of these two neurotransmitters in regulating the settlement of this sea cucumber species.