Innervation Of Musculature In Trematodes And Cestodes

The innervation of the musculature in Azygia lucii, Diphyllobothrium dendriticum, Eubothrium rugosum, and Haplometra cylindracea was studied by histochemical and immunocytochemical methods combined with confocal scanning laser microscopy. The musculature of the adhesive organs, the reproductive organs and the body was investigated. The musculature was stained with TRITC conjugated phalloidin and the nervous elements with: 1. NADPHdiaphorase (NADPHd) to reveal the pattern of nitrergic neurons, 2. anti-serotonin (5-HT) to reveal the pattern of aminergic neurons and 3. anti-GYIRFamide to reveal the pattern of peptidergic neurons. A close association between the muscle fibres and NADPHd positive nerve fibres was obtained in all worms. The musculature is also innervated by 5-HT immunoreactive (IR) and GYIRFamide-IR nerves. The nitrergic, aminergic and peptidergic signal substances occur in separate sets of neurons.