Effect of high-level oxygen exposure on the peroxidase activity and the neuromelanin-like pigment content of the nerve net in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris

Histochemical examination of 1-mu m tissue sections from the dorsal nerve plexus of the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, reveals multiple brown intraneuronal granules. These granules contain material morphologically and histochemically consistent with neuromelanin. When viewed with transmission electron microscopy, these were seen as single membrane-enclosed biphasic granules with diameters of 370-730 nm. Exposure of L. terrestris to high-level environmental oxygen resulted in an increase in the number of neuromelanin-like pigment granules within the neurons of the circular muscle layer. As measured by ortho-phenylenediamine hydrochloride, the endogenous peroxidase activity of extracts from worms incubated in high-level environmental oxygen was 51% more than controls. The endogenous peroxidase activity was localized in situ with 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and was found to increase in and around the neuromelanin-like pigment-containing neurons within the circular muscle layer. These studies suggest that the nerve net of L. terristris may serve as a model to study the role of neuromelanin production in oxidative stress and its relationship to endogenous peroxidases.