A mosquito neuropeptide in a moth larva (Helicoverpa zea): relation to FMRF-amide immunoreactivity.
The cerebral nervous and midgut 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. Cross-reactivity studies indicate that Aea-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. Radioimmunoassay for Aea-HP-I reveals immunoreactivity in hemolymph, as well as in extracts of midguts and heads.
Department of Zoology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
J W
JW
Crim
A C
AC
Jenkins
M R
MR
Brown
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D009033:Culicidae / Q000737:chemistry; D019835:FMRFamide; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007422:Intestines / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000737:chemistry*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
C077670:Aedes Head Peptide I; D009479:Neuropeptides; D019835:FMRFamide