FMRFamide immunoreactivity in the nervous system of the medusa Polyorchis penicillatus

Three different antisera to the molluscan neuropeptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide (FMRFamide) and two different antisera to the fragment RFamide were used to stain sections or whole mounts of the hydrozoan medusa Polyorchis penicillatus. All antisera stained the same neuronal structures. Strong immunoreactivity was found in neurons of the ectodermal nerve nets of the manubrium and tentacles, in neurons of the sensory epithelium, and in neurons at the periphery of the sphincter muscle. Strong immunoreactivity was also present in processes and perikarya of the whole outer nerve ring, in the ocellar nerves, and in nerve cells lying at the periphery of the ocellus. The inner nerve ring contained a moderate number of immunoreactive processes and perikarya, which were distinct from the swimming motor neurons. In contrast to the situation in the hydrozoan polyp Hydra attenuata, no immunoreactivity was found with several antisera to oxytocin/vasopressin and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide. The morphology and location of most FMRFamide-immunoreactive neurons in Polyorchis coincides with two identified neuronal systems, which have been recently discovered from neurophysiological studies.