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Fig. 6 | BMC Evolutionary Biology

Fig. 6

From: Neuroanatomy of mud dragons: a comprehensive view of the nervous system in Echinoderes (Kinorhyncha) by confocal laser scanning microscopy

Fig. 6

FMRF-LIR in the nervous system of Echinoderes. Confocal z-stack projections co-labeled for FMRF-LIR (b-e, g-h), acTub-LIR (a, f) and/or DNA (a-b, f-g). Anterior is to the top in (a-b, e-h); dorsal is to the top in (c-d). Specimen silhouettes with dashed squares indicate the axial region of each z-stack. Color legend applies to all panels. a-d Echinoderes spinifurca. e-h Echinoderes horni. a-b Segments 1–9 in dorsal views with head retracted. FMRF-LIR is detected in the neuropil and several somata associated with the anterior end of the brain and introvert. FMRF-LIR is correlated with acTub-LIR within subdorsal nerves (a). c-d Anterior views of cross sections through the brain corresponding to axial positions (c and d) in (b). c multiple FMRF+ somata (asterisks, arrowheads) anterior to the neuropil. d FMRF+ ring-like neuropil and ventral nerve cord. The outer contour in c and d is cuticular autofluorescence. e Dorsal view of FMRF-LIR in the neuropil and associated somata (asterisks). f-g Segments 4–8 in ventral view of the same specimen showing acTub-LIR (f) and FMRF-LIR (g) along the ganglionated ventral nerve cord. h Segments 1–4 in ventral view with head retracted showing FMRF-LIR within the neuropil and associated somata (asterisks). Arrowheads mark the position of FMRF+ bipolar somata. Note the pair of FMRF+ somata (vncs) in segment 4 along the ventral nerve cord. Scale bars, 20 μm in all panels. Abbreviations: aso, anterior somata; bpc, FMRF+ bipolar cells; mcnr, mouth cone nerve ring; mdg, middorsal ganglion; np, neuropil; psn, primary spinoscalid neurite; pso, posterior somata; s1–9, segments 1–9; sdn, subdorsal longitudinal nerve; vnc, ventral nerve cord; vncg, ventral nerve cord ganglion; vncs, ventral nerve cord FMRF+ somata

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