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Published on: May 4, 2018
Insect NMDA receptors mediate juvenile hormone biosynthesis
Ann-Shyn Chiang1, Wei-Yong Lin, Hsin-Ping Liu
1Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300 Taiwan, Republic of China. aschiang@life.nthu.edu.tw
Summary
Functional N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) were identified in insect corpora allata, regulating juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis. This suggests NMDAR played an early role in animal evolution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Insect Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) are crucial for vertebrate neuronal functions.
- Functional NMDAR have not been previously characterized in insects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and function of NMDAR in insect corpora allata.
- To determine the role of NMDAR in juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis regulation.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry to detect glutamatergic nerve terminals in cockroach corpora allata.
- In vitro exposure of cockroach corpus allatum (CA) cells to NMDA and NMDAR blockers.
- Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) to identify NMDAR mRNA transcripts in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Immunohistochemical labeling of NMDAR1 in Drosophila melanogaster ring glands and brains.
Main Results:
- Cockroach CA cells showed increased cytosolic calcium in response to NMDA, blocked by MK-801 and Mg(2+).
- NMDA stimulated JH production in active glands of mated females, with sensitivity varying cyclically.
- NMDAR1 and NMDAR2 mRNA transcripts were detected in Drosophila melanogaster ring glands and brains.
- NMDAR1-like immunoreactive protein was localized to CA cells in Drosophila melanogaster ring glands.
Conclusions:
- Functional N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors are present in insect corpora allata.
- NMDAR plays a role in regulating juvenile hormone synthesis in insects.
- Ionotropic glutamate receptors likely specialized early in animal evolution.
