Quantification of allatostatin receptor mRNA levels in the cockroach, Diploptera punctata, using real-time PCR.
The cockroach allatostatin receptor (Dippu-AstR) is a 425 amino acid G-protein coupled receptor that is related to the mammalian galanin receptor. Using relative standard curve real-time PCR analysis, changes in Dippu-AstR mRNA expression levels were examined in tissues of adult mated and virgin female Diploptera punctata. Tissues were chosen that were either known targets of allatostatin (Dippu-AST) action or sites of Dippu-AST localization. Tissues examined included brain, corpora allata (CA), gut, ovaries, testes and abdominal ganglia. Dippu-AstR was expressed in all tissues examined for 7 days after adult emergence. Juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis is known to peak on day 5 post-emergence in mated females. In mated females, Dippu-AstR mRNA was at the highest levels on day 6 post-emergence in brain and CA and day 2 post-emergence in midgut. Dippu-AstR expression was found to correlate with the decline in JH biosynthesis noted on day 5 post-emergence and early inhibition of feeding. Dippu-AstR mRNA expression in virgin female midgut and CA was dramatically elevated on days 6 and 7, respectively. Expression of Dippu-AstR mRNA was found to be similar in the abdominal ganglia of mated or virgin females. Ovarian Dippu-AstR expression declined to low levels by day 4. Testes exhibited maximal Dippu-AstR mRNA expression on days 4 and 7 of adult life. A role for Dippu-AST in testes of Diploptera is unknown.
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6.
Panida
P
Lungchukiet
Jinrui
J
Zhang
Stephen S
SS
Tobe
William G
WG
Bendena
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000378:metabolism*; D003335:Corpora Allata / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005724:Ganglia / Q000378:metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000819:agonists*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
D019476:Insect Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C076523:allatostatin