African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Expression of GFSKLYFamide-like neuropeptide in the digestive system of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (Echinodermata)

Abayomi Ajayi*
  • Abayomi Ajayi*
  • Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kogi State University, Anyigba, PMB 1008, Anyigba, Nigeria; Centre of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
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Boonsirm Withyachumnarnkul
  • Boonsirm Withyachumnarnkul
  • Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Centre of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Aquatic Animal Biotechnology Research Center, Surat Thani Campus, Surat Thani 84100, Thailand.
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  •  Received: 19 October 2014
  •  Accepted: 17 June 2015
  •  Published: 23 June 2015

Abstract

Neuropeptides are key mediators of physiological processes in animals and a considerable amount of information has been accumulated on their diversity and functions across phyla. However, progress in echinoderm neurobiology has been much slower than others. The sea cucumber Holothuria scabra is an economically important tropical echinoderm species in which a neuropeptide is yet to be identified. This immunohistochemical study utilized antibody raised against GFSKLYFamide neuropeptide together with confocal laser scanning microscopy. GFSKLYFamide-like immunoreactivity was shown to be localized in the stomach and small intestines of H. scabra. This is the first report that provides evidence for the presence of GFSKLYFamide neuropeptide in the digestive tract of this species.

 

Key words: GFSKLYFamide, SALMFamides, immunohistochemistry, sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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