RT Journal Article
T1 Pattern of nitrergic cells and fibers organization in the central nervous system of the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri (Sarcopterygii: Dipnoi)
A1 López Redondo, Jesús María
A1 Morona Arribas, Ruth
A1 González Gallegos, Agustín
AB The Australian lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri is the only extant species of the order Ceratodontiformes, which retained most of the primitive features of ancient lobe finned-fishes. Lungfishes are the closest living relatives of land vertebrates and their study is important for deducing the neural traits that were conserved, modified, or lost with the transition from fishes to land vertebrates. We have investigated the nitrergic system with neural nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry, which yielded almost identical results except for the primary olfactory projections and the terminal and preoptic nerve fibers labeled only for NADPH-d. Combined immunohistochemistry was used for simultaneous detection of NOS with catecholaminergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic structures, aiming to establish accurately the localization of the nitrergic elements and to assess possible interactions between these neurotransmitter systems. The results demonstrated abundant nitrergic cells in the basal ganglia, amygdaloid complex, preoptic area, basal hypothalamus, mesencephalic tectum and tegmentum, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, reticular formation, spinal cord, and retina. In addition, low numbers of nitrergic cells were observed in the olfactory bulb, all pallial divisions, lateral septum, suprachiasmatic nucleus, prethalamic and thalamic areas, posterior tubercle, pretectum, torus semicircularis, cerebellar nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, the medial octavolateral nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, and the dorsal column nucleus. Colocalization of NOS and tyrosine hydroxylase was observed in numerous cells of the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra complex. Comparison with other vertebrates, using a neuromeric analysis, reveals that the nitrergic system of Neoceratodus shares many neuroanatomical features with tetrapods and particularly with amphibians.
PB Wiley
SN 1096-9861
YR 2019
FD 2019
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/13504
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/13504
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)
NO Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional  (FEDER)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025