Expression of nerve growth factor-like polypeptides and immunoreactivity related to the two types of neurotrophin receptors in earthworm tissues

Nerve growth factor (NGF) belongs by sequence homology to the neurotrophins, a family of proteins binding the same p75 receptor and closely related members of the Trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Fundamental in the vertebrate nervous system, neurotrophin signals have also been suggested as essential for relatively complex nervous systems occurring in invertebrate species that live longer than Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Mammalian neurotrophins have been found to influence invertebrate neuronal growth. However, there are only a few data on the presence of molecules related to neurotrophin signalling components in invertebrates. Our studies provide evidence that analogues of neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors are expressed in Eisenia foetida earthworms. In particular, NGF-like and Trk-like immunoreactive proteins are both expressed in the nervous system, whereas p75-like positivity identifies tubular structures associated with dorsal pores that are involved in the earthworm response to mechanical irritation or stress. Received 12 November 2001; received after revision 8 January 2002; accepted 8 January 2002