A mosquito neuropeptide in a moth larva ( Helicoverpa zea): Relation to FMRF-amide immunoreactivity

• Published in: Tissue & cell Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 537 - 545
• Main Authors: Crim, Joe W., Jenkins, Alan C., Brown, Mark R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sidcup Elsevier Ltd 1992; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aedes Head Peptide-I; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Chemistry; Culicidae - chemistry; FMRF-amide; FMRFamide; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Helicoverpa; Heliothis; immunocytochemistry; Immunohistochemistry; Insecta; Intestines - chemistry; Invertebrates; Larva - chemistry; Lepidoptera; midgut; Molecular Sequence Data; Moths - chemistry; Neuropeptides - analysis; Physiology. Development; Radioimmunoassay; Heliothis; Lepidoptera; midgut; Aedes Head Peptide-I; Helicoverpa; immunocytochemistry; FMRF-amide; Digestive system; Immunocytochemistry; Midgut; Insecta; Central nervous system; Neuropeptide; Neurosecretion; Endocrine secretion; Larva; Arthropoda; Noctuidae; Invertebrata; FMRF amide
• ISSN: 0040-8166; 1532-3072
• DOI: 10.1016/0040-8166(92)90069-J

The cerebral nervous and midgul endocrine systems of the larval corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, were examined using light microscopy and immunocytochemistry for RF-amide family peptides. Immunoreactivity for a mosquito neuropeptide, Aedes Head Peptide-I (Aea-HP-I, pERPhPSLKTRFa), is widely distributed in this lepidopteran. Immunostaining for Aea-HP-I is localized (1a) in perikarya and axons of the brain, the subesophageal ganglion, and the first thoracic ganglion, (b) in peripheral axons innervating muscles of the midgut, and (2) in numerous midgut endocrine cells. Aea-HP-I-associated activity generally occurs as a subset of FMRF-amide (FMRFa; a molluscan cardioactive peptide) immunoreactivity. Crossreactivity studies indicate that Aca-HP-I and FMRFa immunoreactivities are heterogeneous in the cerebral nervous system and in axons innervating the muscles of the midgut, but may be homogeneous in midgut endocrine cells. Radiommunoassay for Aea-HP-I reveals immunoreactivity in hemolymph, as well as in extracts of midguts and heads.