Histaminergic interneurons in the ventral nerve cord: assessment of their value for euarthropod phylogeny

peer-reviewed
Erstveröffentlichung
2019-12-23Authors
Maurer, Maite
Hladik, Janina
Iliffe, Thomas M.
Stemme, Torben
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Published in
Zoological Letters ; 5 (2019), 36. - eISSN 2056-306X
Link to original publication
https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40851-019-0151-1Faculties
Fakultät für NaturwissenschaftenInstitutions
Institut für NeurobiologieExternal cooperations
Texas A&M UniversityDocument version
published version (publisher's PDF)Abstract
Despite numerous approaches to the resolution of euarthropod phylogeny, mainly based on modern sequence information and traditional external morphology, the resulting hypotheses are often contradictory and leave many questions about euarthropod evolution unanswered. The comparison of developmental and structural aspects of the nervous system has shown to be a valuable contribution to the assessment of current phylogenetic hypotheses. One promising approach for the generation of new character sets is the morphology of transmitter systems and the discovery of individually identifiable neurons, which allow phylogenetic comparisons on the single cell level. In this context, the serotonin transmitter system has been investigated to a considerable degree. Studies to date have yielded important stimuli to our understanding of euarthropod relationships and the evolution of their nervous systems. However, data on other transmitter systems remain fragmented, and their value with respect to phylogenetic questions remains speculative. The biogenic amine histamine is a promising transmitter; a substantial
amount of data has been reported in the literature and the homology of some histaminergic neurons has been suggested. Here, we present a comprehensive review of histaminergic neurons in the ventral nerve cord of
Euarthropoda. Using immunocytochemical labeling of histamine combined with confocal laser-scanning
microscopy, we investigated the transmitter system in phylogenetically relevant taxa, such as Zygentoma,
Remipedia, Diplopoda, and Arachnida. By reconstructing ground patterns, we evaluated the significance of this specific character set for euarthropod phylogeny. With this approach, we identified a set of neurons, which can be considered homologous within the respective major taxon. In conclusion, the histaminergic system contains useful information for our understanding of euarthropod phylogeny, supporting the proposed clades Tetraconata and Mandibulata. Furthermore, this character set has considerable potential to help resolve relationships within the major clades at a deeper level of taxonomy, due to the considerable variability in neurite morphology.
Publication funding
Gefördert vom Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg
Open-Access-Förderung durch die Universität Ulm
Open-Access-Förderung durch die Universität Ulm
Subject headings
[GND]: Biogene Amine | Evolution[LCSH]: Patterned ground | Biogenic amines | Scorpione | Pseudoscorpions | Evolution
[Free subject headings]: Ground pattern reconstruction | Serial homology | Inhibitory transmitter | Neurophylogeny | Scorpion | Remipede | VNC
[DDC subject group]: DDC 570 / Life sciences | DDC 590 / Animals (Zoology)
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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-34185
Maurer, Maite et al. (2021): Histaminergic interneurons in the ventral nerve cord: assessment of their value for euarthropod phylogeny. Open Access Repositorium der Universität Ulm und Technischen Hochschule Ulm. http://dx.doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-34185
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