title: Allatostatin gene expression in brain and midgut, and activity of synthetic allatostatins on feeding-related processes in the cockroach Blattella germanica.
abstract: Allatostatins of the YXFGLamide group were discovered in cockroaches through their capacity to inhibit juvenile hormone biosynthesis. Here, we assess the occurrence of preproallatostatin (preproAST) mRNA in the brain and midgut of adult females of the cockroach Blattella germanica, and estimate brain and midgut preproAST mRNA levels during the first reproductive cycle. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) shows that brain preproAST mRNA levels increase slightly during the gonadotrophic cycle, and remain high during ootheca transport. In the midgut, preproAST mRNA levels decline around the middle of the gonadotrophic cycle. The pattern of allatostatin expression in gut tissues suggests that these peptides play roles related to feeding and nutrition. Our results have shown that synthetic allatostatins inhibit hindgut motility and activate midgut alpha-amylase secretion. In addition, injected allatostatins inhibit food consumption, which might be connected to the above activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Molecular Biodiversity, Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maestro
authors.forename: Lluïsa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vilaplana
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Maria-Dolors
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Piulachs
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bellés
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020048:Blattellidae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012098:Reproduction; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C076523:allatostatin; D000516:alpha-Amylases