Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)

Editor

Personal info

View

About

Terms

Javascript disabled

Please enable Javascript support in your browser to use this application.

Instructions on how to enable JavaScript on different browsers can be found here: http://www.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=23852.

[edit this page]

Bowman, J.W. et al.

Nitric oxide mediates the inhibitory effects of SDPNFLRFamide, a nematode FMRFamide-related neuropeptide, in Ascaris suum.

1. The physiological effects of two Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 (FMRFamide)-related neuropeptides isolated from the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus, SDPNFLRFamide (PF1) and SADPNFLRFamide (PF2), were examined using neuromuscular preparations from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. 2. PF1 and PF2 hyperpolarized muscle membrane and induced sustained flaccid paralysis, independent of external Cl-, in both innervated and denervated preparations. 3. PF1 reversed spastic contractions induced by the cholinomimetic levamisole, elevated K+, or the excitatory nematode FMRFamide-related neuropeptides KNEFIRFamide or KHEYLRFamide. 4. PF1 reversal of levamisole contraction was blocked by pretreatment with agents that interfere with nitric oxide (NO) synthesis (e.g., N-nitro-L-arginine), whereas sodium nitroprusside, which releases NO in solution, mimicked PF1 and PF2. 5. NO synthase activity, monitored by the conversion of [3H]arginine to [3H]citrulline, was twice as abundant in A. suum hypodermis as in muscle, but was not present in reproductive tissue. The relative abundance of NO synthase activity in these tissues was similar to the observed specific binding of [3H]PF1. 6. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of PF1 and PF2 on nematode somatic muscle are mediated by NO, and that the hypodermis may serve a role in this process analogous to that of the endothelium in vertebrate vasculature.[1]

References

Nitric oxide mediates the inhibitory effects of SDPNFLRFamide, a nematode FMRFamide-related neuropeptide, in Ascaris suum. Bowman, J.W., Winterrowd, C.A., Friedman, A.R., Thompson, D.P., Klein, R.D., Davis, J.P., Maule, A.G., Blair, K.L., Geary, T.G. J. Neurophysiol. (1995) [Pubmed]

Annotations and hyperlinks in this abstract are from individual authors of WikiGenes or automatically generated by the WikiGenes Data Mining Engine. The abstract is from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.About WikiGenes Open Access Licence Privacy Policy Terms of Use apsburg

The world's first wiki where authorship really matters (Nature Genetics, 2008). Due credit and reputation for authors. Imagine a global collaborative knowledge base for original thoughts. Search thousands of articles and collaborate with scientists around the globe.