Immunohistochemical localization of histamine neuropeptide in the brain neurosecretory cells of tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta (DRURY)

Abstract

Histamine is a putative neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system where it plays a modulatory function. Recently, there has also been growing interest in histamine as a putative neurotransmitter in invertebrates and it has now been implicated as a neurotransmitter in molluscs. In the present study, the distribution and localization of histamine immunoreactive cells were investigated by using polyclonal antibody against the histamine during the larval development of tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta. The result confirmed the presence of histamine immunoreactive cells in the brain of larvae. During the development of first to fifth larval instars, a pair of four groups of neurosecretory cells (MNC, LNC, PNC and VNC) were observed in the brain of larvae. In the present study it has been found that only the MNC group shows positive reactivity with anti-histamine antibody, during immunohistochemical reaction.