Insect tissue culture systems: models for study of hormonal control of development

The regulation of growth and development of insects is under endocrine control and involves both juvenile hormones and ecdysteroids. Neuropeptides are master regulators which control the secretion of these hormones. Most experiments in insect endocrinology have been conducted in vivo, but tissue culture methodology is playing an increasing role due to the great interest in simpler model systems for the study of complex processes that occur in vivo. The availability of appropriate media has allowed the culture of a variety of insect organs and cell lines of defined origin which have kept certain properties of the parent tissues. Tissue culture approaches have been useful for studying hormonal control of morphogenetic processes. Cell lines are particularly suited to the study of hormonally regulated mechanisms of macromolecular biosynthesis and gene expression. Thus, the value of in vitro analysis in studies of regulation of hormone production is now recognized. Results obtained from tissue culture allow more precise definition of the hormonal requirements of insect cells and tissues for growth and differentiation and might make possible the discovery of new growth regulators.