Allatostatin-immunoreactive neurons projecting to the corpora allata of adult Diploptera punctata

Abstract

A monoclonal antibody against allatostatin I was used to demonstrate the allatostatin-immunoreactive pathways between the brain and the corpus cardiacum-corpus allatum complex in the adult cockroach Diploptera punctata. The antibody was two to three orders of magnitude more sensitive to allatostatin I than to the other four known members of the allatostatin family. Whole and sectioned brains in which immunoreactivity was localized with horseradish peroxidase-H2O2-diaminobenzidine reaction showed strongly immunoreactive cells in the pars lateralis of the brain with axons leading to and arborizing in the corpus cardiacum and the corpus allatum. Although many neurosecretory cells of the pars intercerebralis project to the corpora allata only, four strongly immunoreactive cells were evident here (two pairs on either side), and these did not project to the corpus cardiacum and corpus allatum but rather terminated within the protocerebrum in areas in which lateral cells also formed arborizations. Immunoreactivity was found in many other cells in the brain, especially in the tritocerebrum.

Expression of the allatostatin gene in endocrine cells of the cockroach midgut.

“…Allatostatin-like immunoreactivity is present in neurosecretory cells in the brain and in neuroendocrine axons projecting to the corpora cardiaca and CA (24) and in cells of subesophageal and terminal abdominal ganglia (25). It is also present in brain interneurons (24) and in neurons projecting to several peripheral tissues, such as the antennal heart muscle and the hindgut in D. punctata (25,26). This distribution suggests that members of the allatostatin family of neuropeptides may have functions unrelated to the regulation of JH synthesis.…”

“…Our study clearly shows that cockroach allatostatins are distributed beyond the braincorpora allata axis and that other cells in addition to four neuroendocrine cells of the pars intercerebralis (11) express the allatostatin gene. Allatostatin-like immunoreactivity is present in neurosecretory cells in the brain and in neuroendocrine axons projecting to the corpora cardiaca and CA (24) and in cells of subesophageal and terminal abdominal ganglia (25). It is also present in brain interneurons (24) and in neurons projecting to several peripheral tissues, such as the antennal heart muscle and the hindgut in D. punctata (25,26).…”

Immunostaining for allatotropin and allatostatin-A and -C in the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus

“…In Diploptera punctata and Gryllus bimaculatus, protocerebral neurosecretory cells show AS-A or AS-B immunoreactivity, respectively, and immunoreactivity in nerves projecting into the CA (Stay et al 1992;Neuhäuser et al 1994). AS-A and AS-C immunoreactivities have been demonstrated in a large number of neurons in the adult brain of Drosophila melanogaster (Zitnan et al 1993;Yoon and Stay 1995), whereas nerves to the CA are not stained by the AS-A antiserum (Yoon and Stay 1995).…”

Identification and characterization of a tachykinin-containing neuroendocrine organ in the commissural ganglion of the crabCancer productus

“…For the detection of allatostatin-like peptides, a mouse monoclonal antibody (Dr B. Stay, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Stay et al, 1992;Woodhead et al, 1992;Pulver and Marder, 2002) was used at a final dilution of 1:100. For the detection of buccalin-like peptides, a rabbit polyclonal antibody (Dr K. Weiss, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Miller et al, 1992;Christie et al, 1994) was used at a final dilution of 1:100.…”