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. 1987 Mar;7(1):91–96. doi: 10.1007/BF00734992

The presence of enkephalin-like substances in the eyestalk and brain of the land crabGecarcinus lateralis

Michael K Leung 1,2, Henry Kessler 3, Kieron Whitefield 3, Margaret Murray 3, Edwin A Martinez 2,3, George B Stefano 2,3
PMCID: PMC11567442  PMID: 3594519

Abstract

  1. The eyestalk of the land crab,Gecarcinus lateralis, is rich in Met-enkephalin-like materials. Leu-enkephalin, if present, is at a level which is below the sensitivity of our assay.

  2. The brain (cerebral ganglion) of this organism contains both Met- and Leu-enkephalin-like materials. Material which was reactive with our Met-enkephalin antibody was also detected in a peak that migrated after Leu-enkephalin.

  3. This biochemical study confirms earlier immunohistochemical reports which indicated that opioid substances are present in crustaceans. It also strongly supports the concept that opioid mechanisms are a product of early evolution and further demonstrates that the sequence of the smaller opioid compounds has been conserved.

Key words: enkephalin, opioids, crustaceans, Gecarcinus lateralis

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