With their menacing circular mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth, lampreys may seem like ancient creatures. However, a recent study reveals a surprising similarity between lampreys and humans: they possess nerve cells linked to the “fight or flight” response. This discovery challenges previous beliefs about the evolution of the nervous system and places lampreys closer to complex vertebrates, including humans.
Sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) are jawless vertebrates, a group traditionally thought to lack certain nervous system features found in jawed vertebrates, such as the sympathetic nervous system responsible for the “fight or flight” response. This system triggers physiological changes in the body to cope with stress.
Previous research by Caltech neuroscientist Marianne Bronner focused on the lamprey’s peripheral nervous system and gut neurons. During this study, researcher Brittany Edens noticed peripheral neurons outside the lamprey’s intestine, prompting further investigation by Bronner’s team.
Using a technique to identify specific mRNA in lamprey embryos, the researchers discovered a cluster of cells expressing genetic factors associated with sympathetic neurons in other vertebrates. These cells were found lining the heart and trunk of embryonic lampreys, as reported in Nature on April 17.
2024-05-07 09:30:00
Originally published on www.sciencenews.org