Dissociated cell suspensions ofCarcinus maenas Y-organs as a tool to study ecdysteroid production and its regulation

In vitro ecdysteroid production by dissociated Y-organ cells of the shore crabCarcinus maenas was characterized during short-term incubations. Under optimized conditions (M199 adjusted to crab osmolality and with the addition of 10% foetal calf serum), ecdysteroid production by dispersed cells increased linearly during 4-hour incubations, with little intra-assay variation. 25-deoxyecdysone was mainly produced. PurifiedCarcinus molt inhbiting hormone (CamMIH) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of ecdysteroid production by dispersed cells. The cells were about 50 times more sensitive than whole glands to MIH. Other structurally-related peptides were tested.     

Anti-nociceptive role of neuropeptide Y in the nucleus accumbens in rats with inflammation, an effect modulated by mu- and kappa-opioid receptors

Recent study in our laboratory showed that neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays an antinociceptive role in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in intact rats. The present study was performed to further investigate the effect of NPY in nociceptive modulation in the NAc of rats with inflammation, and the possible interaction between NPY and the opioid systems. Experimental inflammation was induced by subcutaneous injection of carrageenan into the left hindpaw of rats. Intra-NAc administration of NPY induced a dose-dependent increase of hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) to thermal and mechanical stimulations in rats with inflammation. The anti-nociceptive effect of NPY was significantly blocked by subsequent intra-NAc injection of the Y1 receptor antagonist NPY28-36, suggesting an involvement of Y1 receptor in the NPY-induced anti-nociception. Furthermore, intra-NAc administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone significantly antagonized the increased HWLs induced by preceding intra-NAc injection of NPY, suggesting an involvement of the endogenous opioid system in the NPY-induced anti-nociception in the NAc during inflammation. Moreover, the NPY-induced anti-nociception was attenuated by following intra-NAc injection of the μ-opioid antagonist β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA), and κ-opioid antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), but not by δ-opioid antagonist naltrindole, indicating that μ- and κ-opioid receptors, not δ-opioid receptor, are involved in the NPY-induced anti-nociception in the NAc in rats with inflammation.     

Neuropeptides of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Six neuropeptides of the silkworm,Bombyx mori, have been isolated and chemically characterized during the past 10 years. They are bombyxin, prothoracicotropic hormone, pheromone-biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide/melanization-and-reddish-coloration hormone, diapause hormone, eclosion hormone, and adipokinetic hormone. Recent progress in research on these neuropeptides is described.     

Occurrence,distribution and nature of neuropeptide Y in the rat pancreas

Summary Significant quantities of a newly discovered peptide, neuropeptide Y, were found in the rat pancreas, where they were localized to nerves in the exocrine parenchyma and around arterial and ductal structures. Although unaffected by surgical parasympathectomy, the periarterial and periductal nerves were abolished by chemical sympathectomy, suggesting that NPY is partially costored with sympathetic transmitters in nerve fibers.     

Calcitonin gene related peptide stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in rat striated muscle

Summary Rat calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and salmon calcitonin (CT) stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent manner in the rat diaphragm and in the kidney. The ED₅₀ value of rat CGRP was lower and that of salmon CT was higher in the diaphragm than in the kidney. These results suggest that CGRP stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in the striated muscle by reacting with sites distinct from the site in the kidney.     

棉铃虫性信息素合成激活肽基因的检测

性信息素合成激活肽是调节昆虫性信息素合成的神经肽．根据昆虫性信息素合成激活肽的氨基酸序列保守性,合成若干引物,以棉铃虫基因组ＤＮＡ为模板,用ＰＣＲ方法得到单一的扩增条带．ＲＴＰＣＲ方法从棉铃虫咽下神经结中检测出性信息素合成激活肽基因在棉铃虫基因组中不仅存在,而且表达．     

野蚕DHPBAN基因启动子的克隆及序列分析

为研究昆虫滞育激素性信息素合成激活肽基因在进化过程中的变化以及基因表达调控的异同,用ＰＣＲ方法克隆了野蚕的ＤＨＰＢＡＮ基因的启动子并测序,这是第二个被克隆的昆虫ＤＨＰＢＡＮ基因启动子．与家蚕相比,在核苷酸水平上同源性达９４％．野蚕ＤＨＰＢＡＮ基因启动子的ＴＡＴＡ框的保守序列为ＴＡＴＡＴＡＡＡ,位于－４７—－４０处;ＣＡＡＴ框是ＧＧＣＣＣＡＴＣＴ,位于－８３—－７５处;野蚕与家蚕一样具有ＴＡＡＴ保守序列,这段序列是一类调控蛋白的结合核心位点,家蚕的位于－１８５—－１７６,野蚕的位于－１７６—－１６７．在－６４—－５６部位,核苷酸序列表现出较大的不同．     

高山姬鼠NPY、AgRP、POMC和CART基因部分序列扩增和分析

实验获得高山姬鼠下丘脑神经肽NPY、AgRP、POMC和CART c DNA片段分别为130 bp、190 bp、241 bp、50 bp,分别编码42、51、70和17个氨基酸,进行同源性比较分析表明,高山姬鼠与褐家鼠、小家鼠的同源性较高,分别构建系统进化树显示高山姬鼠与啮齿类动物聚在一起。这些基因序列的获得可用于今后更进一步的研究高山姬鼠的能量代谢提供基础条件。     

神经肽、神经递质与肿瘤的关系

对神经肽及神经递质对肿瘤增殖和分化的调控作用、调控机理及肿瘤细胞表面的神经肽受体的研究进展进行了综述。