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Characterization of a GABAergic neurotransmission in adult Schistosoma mansoni

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2004

D. L. MENDONÇA-SILVA ,
P. F. GARDINO ,
R. C. C. KUBRUSLY ,
F. G. DE MELLO  and
F. NOËL
D. L. MENDONÇA-SILVA
Affiliation:
Departamento de Farmacologia Básica e Clínica, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
P. F. GARDINO
Affiliation:
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
R. C. C. KUBRUSLY
Affiliation:
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
F. G. DE MELLO
Affiliation:
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
F. NOËL
Affiliation:
Departamento de Farmacologia Básica e Clínica, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Abstract

The neuromuscular systems of parasitic helminths are targets that are particularly amenable for anthelmintics. In this study, we describe a GABAergic neurotransmission in adult Schistosoma mansoni, the trematode responsible for high levels of morbidity in people living in developing countries. GABA immunoreactivity (GABA-IR) was detected in nerve cells and fibres of the cerebral ganglia and longitudinal nerve cords and the nerve plexuses ramifying throughout the parenchyma of male adult worms. In addition, strong GABA-IR was also found associated with the oral and ventral suckers as well as in testes indicating a role for GABA in fixation to the host vascular wall and spermatogenesis. The capacity to synthesize GABA from glutamate was confirmed by measurement of a glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity. Supporting these data, a single band with an apparent molecular weight of about 67 kDa was detected using an antibody raised against mammalian GAD. In vivo studies revealed that picrotoxin, a non-competitive antagonist of the GABAA receptor, produced a modification of the motility and locomotory behaviour of adult worms, suggesting that GABAergic signalling pathway may play a physiological role in the motonervous system of S. mansoni and could be considered as a potential target for the development of new drugs.

Keywords

Schistosoma mansonihelminthsGABAglutamate decarboxylasenervous systemneurotransmissionimmunohistochemistry
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 129 , Issue 2 , August 2004 , pp. 137 - 146
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press

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