Immunological relationships between neuropeptides from the sinus gland of the lobster Homarus americanus, with special references to the vitellogenesis inhibiting hormone and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone.

Antisera raised in guinea pigs against four major neuropeptides purified from sinus glands of the lobster, Homarus americanus, were used to study the immunological relationships between several sinus gland peptides. On the basis of their behavior in ELISA and in absorption procedures, three groups of peptides are defined. Two groups may be related to the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH groups); the third one is composed of three immunologically identical peptides and, since one of these peptides was characterized in previous studies as a vitellogenesis inhibitor, is referred to as VIH group.

Immunochemical and immunocytochemical studies of the crustacean vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone (VIH).

Immunochemical investigations, using dot immunobinding assay (DIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunocytochemical studies reveal the following new information about crustacean vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone (VIH): (1) The structure of VIH is sufficiently different from that of the other sinus gland neuropeptides to allow a selective recognition of VIH by polyclonal antibodies. (2) From immunochemical criteria, VIH does not seem strictly species specific. The antisera raised against VIH of Homarus americanus cross-react with sinus gland extracts of Palaemonetes varians, Palaemon serratus, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Carcinus maenas, and Porcellio dilatatus.

Subcellular localization of vitellogenin in crustacean adipocytes by the unlabelled antibody enzyme method.

The subepidermal fat body of the Amphipod Crustacean Orchestia gammarellus shows ultrastructural modifications related to vitellogenin synthesis. In the adipocytes of vitellogenic females, the rough endoplasmic reticulum is well developed whereas in those of males and non-vitellogenic females it is almost entirely absent; lipids and glycogen are, on the contrary, less abundant. The unlabelled antibody enzyme method shows the presence of vitellogenin in the dense bodies of the adipocytes of vitellogenic females.

[Hormonal control of vitellogenin synthesis in the Amphipoda Crustacea Orchestia gammarella (Pallas)].

The presence of a vitellogenin stimulating ovarian hormone (VSOH) in Orchestia gammarella has been demonstrated by gonadectomy and ovary grafting. Vitellogenin synthesis is not affected by molting hormone injection; it decreases after Y-organ (molting gland) cauterization. Studies in progress seem to indicate that the destruction of the median area of the protocerebrum is followed by a decrease of this synthesis.