title: Immunocytochemical localization of an allatotropin in developmental stages of Heliothis virescens and Apis mellifera.
abstract: Juvenile hormone biosynthesis by the corpora allata is regulated by stimulatory neuropeptides called allatotropins and inhibitory neuropeptides called allatostatins. This study localized Manduca sexta allatotropin-like material in developmental stages of the noctuid moth Heliothis virescens and the honeybee Apis mellifera. Immunocytochemical methods using both fluorescence-tagged antibodies and enzyme-coupled antibodies were used to stain the central nervous tissue of both species. H. virescens contains M. sexta allatotropin (Manse-AT)-like material consistently throughout larval development. The distribution patterns of Manse-AT immunoreactive cell bodies in the CNS persisted from one larval instar to the next. It will be discussed how larval Manse-AT distribution patterns differed from those in adults. The total number of AT-containing cells in brain and subesophageal ganglion gradually increased during larval development, whereas in the thoracic and abdominal ganglia, the number of AT-containing neurons remained constant. In the honeybee A. mellifera, Manse-AT immunoreactive cells were only found in a few brains from late last instar larvae (prepupae). Manse-AT-like material was present in a group of 6-8 cells in the pars intercerebralis. However, we did not find any Manse-AT-like material in brains of early last instar larvae, whose corpora allata (CA) are more sensitive to in vitro stimulation by Manse-AT than prepupal CA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, 211 Life Science Building, 55812, USA.
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Glasscock
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rachinsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000254:growth & development*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; C050669:allatotropin