GABA and GAD expression in the X-organ sinus gland system of the Procambarus clarkii crayfish: inhibition mediated by GABA between X-organ neurons

J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2011 Sep;197(9):923-38. doi: 10.1007/s00359-011-0653-6. Epub 2011 May 31.

Abstract

In crustaceans, the X-organ-sinus gland (XO-SG) neurosecretory system is formed of distinct populations of neurons that produce two families of neuropeptides: crustacean hyperglycemic hormone and adipokinetic hormone/red pigment-concentrating hormone. On the basis of electrophysiological evidence, it has been proposed that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) regulates both electrical and secretory activity of the XO-SG system. In this work we observed that depolarizing current pulses to neurons located in the external rim of the X-organ induced repetitive firing that suppressed the spontaneous firing of previously active X-organ neurons. Picrotoxin reversibly blocked this inhibitory effect suggesting that the GABA released from the stimulated neuron inhibited neighboring cells. Immunoperoxidase in X-organ serial sections showed co-localization of GABA and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) including the aforementioned neurons. Immunofluorescence in whole mount preparations showed that two subpopulations of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone-containing neurons colocalized with GABA. The expression of GAD mRNA was determined in crayfish tissue and X-organ single cells by RT-PCR. Bioinformatics analysis shows, within the amplified region, 90.4% consensus and 41.9% identity at the amino acid level compared with Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. We suggest that crustacean hyperglycemic hormone-GABA-containing neurons can regulate the excitability of other X-organ neurons that produce different neurohormones.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropod Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Arthropod Proteins / metabolism
  • Astacoidea / physiology*
  • Female
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / biosynthesis*
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / genetics
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / metabolism
  • Invertebrate Hormones / biosynthesis
  • Invertebrate Hormones / metabolism
  • Male
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neural Inhibition / drug effects
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Neurosecretion / drug effects
  • Neurosecretion / physiology
  • Neurosecretory Systems / cytology
  • Neurosecretory Systems / drug effects
  • Neurosecretory Systems / physiology*
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / biosynthesis
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology*

Substances

  • Arthropod Proteins
  • Invertebrate Hormones
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • hyperglycemic hormone, crustacean
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase