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Patterns in the nervous and muscle systems in lower flatworms
Reuter, M.; Raikova, O.I.; Gustafsson, M.K.S. (2001). Patterns in the nervous and muscle systems in lower flatworms. Belg. J. Zool. 131(Suppl. 1): 47-53
In: Belgian Journal of Zoology. Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde = Société royale zoologique de Belgique: Gent. ISSN 0777-6276; e-ISSN 2295-0451, more
Also appears in:
Saló, E.; Watson, N.; Schockaert, E. (Ed.) (2001). Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on the Biology of the Turbellaria, Barcelona, Spain, June 2000. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 131(Suppl. 1). Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde = Société royale zoologique de Belgique: Diepenbeek. 236 pp., more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Anatomical structures > Nervous system > Central nervous system > Brain
    Biogeny > Phylogeny
    Cells > Neurons
    Divergence
    Musculoskeletal system > Muscles
    Macrostomida [WoRMS]; Nemertodermatida [WoRMS]; Platyhelminthes [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Reuter, M.
  • Raikova, O.I.
  • Gustafsson, M.K.S.

Abstract
    In order to test the monophyly of the Plathelminthes and the phylogenetic relationships of Acoela and Nemertodermatida, studies on the neuroanatomy of these groups were performed using anti-serotonin (5-HT) and anti-FMRF related peptides (FaRPs) immunocytochemistry. The Catenulida + Rhabditophora seem to be monophyletic. Four synapomorphies are proposed for these taxa. The presence of: 1. a bilobed brain showing 5-HF- and FaRP immunoreactivity. 2. a distinct neuropile, showing 5-HT and FaRP immunoreactivity. 3. two main nerve cords (MC's) aligned by 5-HT-immunoreactive (IR) marker neurones, 4. FaRP-immunoreactivity in the stomatogastric nervous system (NS). No synapomorphies were detected between Acoela and other Plathelminthes. The IR patterns of Acoela are characterised by: 1. The presence of a 5-HT-IR commissural brain. 2. The presence of clusters of FaRP-IR cells not integrated into a brain of the flatworm type. 3. The absence of a regular orthogon. 4. The absence of serotoninergic marker neurones along the main nerve cords (MC's). 5. The absence of a stomatogastric FaRP positive nervous system (NS). No support was obtained for a taxon Acoelomorpha. Our data are compatible with the hypothesis that both the Acoela and the Nemertodermatida do not belong to the Plathelminthes.

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