Immunohistochemical localisation of vasopressin/oxytocin-type, corazonin-type and luqin-type neuropeptide expression in the starfish Asterias rubens using antibodies to the C-terminal region of precursor proteins

Neuropeptides derived from larger precursor proteins are secreted as signalling molecules by neurons and regulate diverse physiological and behavioural processes in animals. Recently, we reported the discovery of ArCRZ (HNTFTMGGQNRWKAG-NH(2)) and ArLQ (EEKTRFPKFMRW-NH(2))—novel neuropeptides in the starfish Asterias rubens that are orthologs of arthropod corazonins and molluscan luqins, respectively. However, our efforts to generate antibodies to ArCRZ and ArLQ have been unsuccessful, precluding immunohistochemical analysis of their expression. Here, we investigated an alternative experimental approach for neuropeptide immunohistochemistry by generating antibodies to peptides corresponding to the C-terminal region of the precursor proteins. As proof of principle, we generated antibodies to the C-terminal region of the precursor of the vasopressin/oxytocin-type neuropeptide asterotocin and show that these reveal immunostaining in A. rubens that is very similar to that observed with asterotocin antibodies. Furthermore, antibodies to the C-terminal region of the ArCRZ precursor (ArCRZP) and the ArLQ precursor (ArLQP) produced patterns of immunostaining consistent, respectively, with the distribution of ArCRZP and ArLQP transcripts revealed by mRNA in situ hybridisation. Detailed immunohistochemical analysis revealed widespread expression of ArCRZP and ArLQP in A. rubens, including the central nervous system, digestive system and the body wall and its associated appendages (e.g. tube feet), providing a neuroanatomical framework for investigation and interpretation of the pharmacological actions of ArCRZ and ArLQ in A. rubens. Furthermore, our findings provide a basis for use of antibodies to the C-terminal region of neuropeptide precursor proteins in other species where the production of antibodies to the bioactive neuropeptides is unsuccessful.