Role of the Median Neurosecretory Cells in the Ovarian Development of the Blow Fly Protophormia terraenovae

Magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs), of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus, secrete the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin. As a result, they have an essential role in fundamental physiological responses including regulation of blood volume and fluid homeostasis. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is present at high levels in the hypothalamus. Although CNP is known to decrease hormone secretion from MNCs, no studies have examined the role of the natriuretic peptide C receptor (NPR-C) in these neurons. In this study, whole cell recordings from acutely isolated MNCs, and MNCs in a coronal slice preparation, show that CNP (2 × 10−8 M) and the selective NPR-C agonist, cANF (2 × 10−8 M), significantly inhibit L-type Ca2+ current ( ICa(L)) by ∼50%. This effect on ICa(L) is mimicked by dialyzing a Gi-activator peptide (10−7 M) into these cells, implicating a role for the inhibitory G protein, Gi. These NPR-C–mediated effects were specific to ICa(L). T-type Ca2+ channels were unaffected by CNP. Current-clamp experiments revealed the ability of CNP, acting via the NPR-C receptor, to decrease (∼25%) the number of action potentials elicited during a 500 ms depolarizing stimulus. Analysis of action potential duration revealed that CNP and cANF significantly decreased 50% repolarization time (APD50) in MNCs. In summary, our findings show that CNP has a potent and selective inhibitory effect on ICa(L) and on excitability in MNCs that is mediated by the NPR-C receptor. These data represent the first electrophysiological evidence of a functional role for the NPR-C receptor in the mammalian hypothalamus.

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THE ROLE OF NUTRITION AND TEMPERATURE IN THE OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORKER HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent130883-6 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 130 (6) ◽

pp. 883-891 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Huarong Lin ◽

Mark L. Winston

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Royal Jelly ◽

Ovarian Development ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Brood Chamber ◽

Laying Workers

AbstractQueenless, caged, newly emerged worker bees (Apis mellifera L.) were fed honey, 22 and 40% pollen in honey, and 22 and 40% royal jelly in honey for 14 days. Workers fed royal jelly, pollen, and honey had large, medium, and small ovaries, respectively. Royal jelly had higher nutritive value for workers’ ovarian development than did pollen, possibly because royal jelly is predigested by nurse bees and easily used by adult and larval bees. These results suggest that nurse bees could mediate workers’ ovarian development in colonies via trophallactic exchange of royal jelly. Six levels of royal jelly in honey, 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% (royal jelly without honey), were tested for their effects on workers’ ovarian development and mortality for 10 days. High levels of royal jelly increased ovarian development, but also increased worker mortality. All caged bees treated with 100% royal jelly died within 3 days. When workers were incubated at 20, 27, and 34 °C for 10 days, only bees at 34 °C developed ovaries. These findings suggest that nurse bees functioning as units which digest pollen and produce royal jelly may feed some potentially egg-laying workers in a brood chamber with royal jelly when a queen is lost in a colony. Feeding workers a diet of 50% royal jelly in honey and incubating at 34 °C for 10 days is recommended for tests of ovarian development.

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