IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF MULTIPLE CHOLECYSTOKININ-LIKE PEPTIDES IN THE STOMATOGASTRIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF THE CRAB CANCER-BOREALIS

Three anti-cholecystokinin antibodies were used to label the stomatoga stric nervous system of the crab Cancer borealis. Labeled tissues were examined as whole mounts using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Al though each of the anti-cholecystokinin antibodies labeled a variety o f structures within the stomatogastric nervous system (including somat a, fibers and neuropil), the pattern of labeling produced by each anti body was distinct. These results indicate that there is a family of ch olecystokinin-like molecules that are differentially distributed among a subpopulation of the neurons in the stomatogastric nervous system o f Cancer borealis.