1. The neuropeptide Gonadotropin-releasing hormone modifies the spontaneous muscular contraction in the earthworm: Eisenia foetida.
- Author
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Luis Quintanar J, Gutiérrez-García K, and Castillo-Hernández L
- Subjects
- Animals, Immunohistochemistry, Nerve Net metabolism, Oligochaeta metabolism, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone metabolism, Muscle Contraction physiology, Receptors, LHRH genetics, Receptors, LHRH immunology
- Abstract
We investigated whether the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone affects the spontaneous muscular contraction in the earthworm Eisenia foetida. In addition, we investigated the presence of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in ventral nerve cord by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone induced a significant increase on both amplitude and muscular tone and decrease in the frequency of spontaneous muscular contraction. We found the presence of immunoreactive material to Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in the ventral nerve cord, likewise the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor mRNA expression. In conclusion, the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone modifies the spontaneous muscular contraction in E. foetida and these effects can be due to the activation of the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor.
- Published
- 2011
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