Agelenids of the World

Systematics and Taxonomy of Agelenidae, a Worldwide distributed Spider Family

Phosphatases in the central nervous system of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1979
Authors:W. Meyer
Journal:Histochemistry
Volume:59
Pagination:177-187
Date Published:1979
ISBN Number:0301-5564
Keywords:[Enzymes / / Phosphatase distribution, / / ]., Araneae (Arachnida)., Araneae [Enzymes / / Phosphatase distribution] [Central nervous system, Araneus sclopetarius, Araneus sclopetarius (Araneae)., atrica, Biochemistry, central nervous system]., Marpissa muscosa, Marpissa muscosa (Araneae)., Nervous system, Pardosa amentata, Pardosa amentata (Araneae)., Proteins, Tegenaria, Tegenaria atrica (Araneae)., Tegenaria derhami, Tegenaria derhami (Araneae)., Trochosa spinipalpis, Trochosa spinipalpis (Araneae)., Zygiella x-notata, Zygiella x-notata (Araneae).
Abstract:

The CNS of web-building spiders (Araneidae, Agelenidae) and hunting spiders (Lycosidae, Salticidae) were tested for nonspecific and specific phosphatases. Acid phosphatase exhibited weakly to moderately positive reactions in the neuronal cell bodies and in the neuropile fiber mass of all species investigated. Alkaline phosphatase could only be demonstrated in the external and internal neural lamellae of the brain and ventral cord of several specimens of the araneid species investigated. Tests for thiamine pyrophosphatase were negative with both the Pb and Ca-Co methods. Distinctive positive reactions for ATPase were visible in the nervous system of all the species used, being especially strong in the optic ganglia of the hunting spiders. The demonstration of ATPase was only possible when applying the Ca-Co method after Padykula and Herman, while the Pb method after Wachstein and Meisel did not produce any staining reaction at all. Controls of the histochemical reaction showed that the enzyme was activated by Ca2+ and inhibited by sulfhydryl destroying reagents (e.g., PCMB [p-chloromercuribenzoate]), but was insensitive to ouabain. It could be probably classified as a mitochondrial proton-translocating ATPase.

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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith