Glutamatergic system in the pelagic tunicates
- 1University of Florida
Abstract
Tunicates are a sister lineage to vertebrates, with compact, relatively simple nervous systems featuring a single central ganglion, reflecting a minimal complement of chordate functional architecture. Although glutamatergic neurons are the most abundant population in vertebrates, their ancestry remains unclear. Here, we used glutamate immunohistochemical labeling (Glutamate IR) to identify glutamatergic elements in the neural system of the pelagic tunicate Doliolum sp. (Thaliacea). Glutamate IR was observed in all major nerves of the central ganglion, including motor-like terminals on the circular bundles of swim muscles, which were themselves labeled. However, the neuronal somata in the central ganglion were not labeled, suggesting glutamate accumulation in axonal processes and terminals. In contrast, we did not identify GABA-containing neural elements. This study suggests that glutamatergic systems were elaborated in the common ancestor of tunicates and vertebrates, although the functional role of glutamate and its role in muscular control need further investigation in these pelagic tunicates.
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BibTeX
@misc{moroz2026glutamatergic,
title = {{Glutamatergic system in the pelagic tunicates}},
author = {L. L. Moroz and T. P. Norekian},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.02.748133},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748133v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Glutamatergic system in the pelagic tunicates
AU - L. L. Moroz
AU - T. P. Norekian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/02
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.02.748133
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748133v1
AB - Tunicates are a sister lineage to vertebrates, with compact, relatively simple nervous systems featuring a single central ganglion, reflecting a minimal complement of chordate functional architecture. Although glutamatergic neurons are the most abundant population in vertebrates, their ancestry remains unclear. Here, we used glutamate immunohistochemical labeling (Glutamate IR) to identify glutamatergic elements in the neural system of the pelagic tunicate Doliolum sp. (Thaliacea). Glutamate IR was observed in all major nerves of the central ganglion, including motor-like terminals on the circular bundles of swim muscles, which were themselves labeled. However, the neuronal somata in the central ganglion were not labeled, suggesting glutamate accumulation in axonal processes and terminals. In contrast, we did not identify GABA-containing neural elements. This study suggests that glutamatergic systems were elaborated in the common ancestor of tunicates and vertebrates, although the functional role of glutamate and its role in muscular control need further investigation in these pelagic tunicates.
ER -