Neurons producing specific neuropeptides in the central nervous system of normal and pupariation-delayed Drosophila

Antibodies generated against bombyxin and prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) of Bombyx mori and allatotropin, allatostatin, and diuretic hormone (DH) of Manduca sexta react with distinct sets of cells in the central nervous system of Drosophila larvae, pupae, and adults. Brain neurons immunoreactive with antibodies to bombyxin, PTTH, and DH are in strikingly similar positions to their lepidopteran counterparts, indicating that at least some Drosophila neuroendocrine cells are homologous to those of lepidopterans. Allatotropin and allatostatin-immunopositive neurons of Drosophila differ from those of lepidopterans, but many of them are identical with neurons that express the FMRFamide gene. Antibodies to bombyxin, PTTH, allatostatin, and DH also stain axons and axon terminals in the neurohemal part of the ring gland, and all tested antibodies except that against bombyxin show positive reaction in the neurohemal area of the ventral ganglion. Although immunoreactivity with all antibodies is variable during development, the highest levels of staining are found at developmental stages when the neuropeptides would be expected to be functioning. A genetic analysis of neuropeptide expression and function has been initiated by analyzing immunoreactivity in mutants that have prolonged larval life associated with imaginal disc overgrowth. Two of these mutants, dlg and dco, show abnormally strong immunoreactivity for allatotropin during the extended larval period and the former also show increased staining with the PTTH antibody. The reduced ecdysteroid titer and delayed or blocked metamorphosis in the mutants may be a result of altered neuropeptide production, which is probably secondary to the imaginal disc overgrowth.