Authors

S. Kumar; P. N. Ganji; H. J. Song; L. von Kalm;D. W. Borst

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

PLoS One

Keywords

BLOWFLY CALLIPHORA-VOMITORIA; RED SWAMP CRAYFISH; METHIONINE-ENKEPHALIN; OVARIAN MATURATION; IN-VIVO; MET-ENKEPHALIN-ARG6-GLY7-LEU8-LIKE; PEPTIDES; FUNCTIONAL-SIGNIFICANCE; PROCAMBARUS-CLARKII; NEURONAL; PATHWAYS; JUVENILE-HORMONE; Multidisciplinary Sciences

Abstract

Enkephalins play a major role in reproductive physiology in crustaceans; however their role in reproductive development in insects is largely unknown. We investigated the effect of exposure to exogenous leucine-enkephalin (Leu-Enk), methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk), and the opioid antagonist naloxone on gonad development in the Eastern lubber grasshopper, Romalea microptera. Injection of either Leu-Enk or naloxone alone significantly increased the testicular index and testicular follicular diameter in males, and the ovarian index, oocyte length, and oocyte diameter in females. In contrast, injection of Met-Enk inhibited all measures of reproductive development in both sexes. Surprisingly, co-injection of naloxone with either enkephalin enhanced the effect associated with administration of the enkephalin alone. This study clearly demonstrates the ability of enkephalins to disrupt insect sexual development and also suggests the existence of conserved enkephaline-dependent regulatory mechanisms in insects and crustaceans.

Journal Title

Plos One

Volume

7

Issue/Number

11

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

5

WOS Identifier

WOS:000312376100288

ISSN

1932-6203

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