Determination of locust AKH-I by radioimmunoassay and the identification of an AKH-like factor in the locust brain

Molecular characterization, tissue distribution, and ultrastructural localization of adipokinetic hormones in the CNS of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera, Insecta)

Adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) are a group of insect metabolic neurohormones, synthesized and released from an endocrine retrocerebral gland, the corpus cardiacum (CC). Small amounts of AKH have also been identified in the brain, although their role in this organ is not clear. To address this gap in the knowledge about insect brain biology, we studied the nucleotide sequence, tissue distribution, and subcellular localization of AKHs in the brain and CC of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus. This insect expresses two AKHs; the octapeptides Pyrap-AKH and Peram-CAH-II, the presence of which was documented in the both studied organs. In situ hybridization and quantitative reverse-transcription (q-RT)-PCR revealed the expression of the genes encoding for both AKHs not only in the CC, but also in brain. Electron microscopy analysis of the brain revealed the presence of these hormones in specialized secretory granules localized predominantly in the cellular bodies of neurons. The hormones might be transported from the granules into the axons, where they could play a role in neuronal signaling. Under acute stress induced by the injection of 3μmol KCl, the level of AKHs in the brain increased to a greater extent than that in the CC. These results might indicate an enhanced role of brain-derived AKHs in defence reaction under acute stress situations.

Adipokinetic hormone-induced enhancement of antioxidant capacity of Pyrrhocoris apterus hemolymph in response to oxidative stress

The in vivo effects of oxidative stress on adipokinetic hormone (AKH) titer in short-winged (brachypterous) males of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus were tested using paraquat (PQ), a bipyridilium herbicide. PQ undergoes a cyclic redox reaction with oxygen during microsomal and electron transfer reactions forming free radicals in the insect body. Oxidative insult (40 pmol PQ) resulted in enhanced protein carbonylation (a biomarker for oxidative stress) and a depletion of glutathione (GSH) pool in the hemolymph. Interestingly, AKH titer was significantly enhanced in hemolymph at 4 h post inoculation of PQ, while its content in CNS (brain with corpora cardiaca) showed non-specific changes in comparable period. Co-injection of AKH with PQ (40 pmol each) reversed these effects by decreasing protein carbonyl formation, increasing reduced GSH levels, and enhancing the total antioxidant capacity of cell free plasma. Our results indicate that there is a positive feedback regulation between an oxidative stressor action and the level of AKH in insect body, and that AKHs might be involved in the activation of antioxidant protection mechanism.

Developmental and diel changes of adipokinetic hormone in CNS and haemolymph of the flightless wing-polymorphic bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.)

We have used an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for determination of the AKH content in CNS (brain + corpora cardiaca + corpora allata) and haemolymph of adult macropterous and brachypterous females of the bug Pyrrhocoris apterus. The tests revealed that the AKH content fluctuates between 1 and almost 4 pmol/CNS during the first 14 days of adult life and significantly increased in order diapausing brachypters<reproductive brachypters<macropters. The titre of AKH in haemolymph is detectable mostly only in macropterous females during that period; in reproductive or diapausing brachypterous females keeps mostly below the detectable limit--1 fmol/microl. There are significant changes of AKH content in CNS and haemolymph of 10-day-old macropterous females during a 24 h period, with the highest values at about 10 h after the onset of light and at second half of the light period, respectively. The diel changes of AKH content in CNS are positively correlated with diel changes of adipokinetic response to AKH. Immunohistochemistry revealed that almost all reactive material is localized in the posterior part of the corpora cardiaca, and just a small amount in a few cell groups and axons distributed over the whole brain.

A quantitative study of adipokinetic hormone of the firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus

The development of an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for the adipokinetic neuropeptide hormone, Pya-AKH, from the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus L. is described. The ELISA measures as little as 20 fmol of Pya-AKH. Tested against a range of synthetic peptides, the assay has a high sensitivity for peptides containing the C-terminal motif FTPNWamide. The amounts of Pya-AKH in the brain, corpora cardiaca, suboesophageal ganglia, and fused thoracic and abdominal ganglionic mass are very small, with only the corpora cardiaca containing appreciable levels of the hormone (ca. 4 pmol per bug). Preliminary estimates of the persistence of the hormone in the haemolymph are consistent with values determined for AKHs in other insects, and suggest that Pya-AKH has a rapid turnover with a half-life of ca. 18 min. Measurements of circulating titres of AKH in Pyrrhocoris are only possible in the ELISA described here by using pooled samples of haemolymph, and after preliminary clean-up of the haemolymph samples. The titre of Pya-AKH in resting reproductive female Pyrrhocoris is ca. 1 fmol/&mgr;l.

Adipokinetic hormones concentrations in the haemolymph of Schistocerca gregaria, measured by radioimmunoassay

A new procedure for the measurement of adipokinetic hormone (AKH) concentrations in locust (Schistocerca gregaria) haemolymph is described: Haemolymph is extracted with chloroform/methanol/water and the aqueous layer is fractionated with reverse-phase cartridges and HPLC. The fractions corresponding to AKH-I (Lom-AKH-I) and AKH-II (Scg-AKH-II) are then measured in a competitive binding assay using specific antibodies and [3H]AKHs. The procedures could be applied to any peptides containing N-terminal pyroglutamate residues including all members of the adipokinetic/hyperglycaemic/red pigment concentrating hormone family. Results show that the concentrations of both AKH-I and AKH-II increase within 5 min of initiation of flight and are maintained at approx. 15-fold (AKH-I) and 6-fold (AKH-II) the resting levels over flights of at least 60 min. Poisoning of locusts with either the insecticide deltamethrin or with potassium chloride also caused release of hormones. Starvation for 6 h caused elevation of hormone levels in 5th instar nymphs, but starvation for 6 or 20 h had little effect on hormones in adults, despite an increase in haemolymph diacylglycerols at 20 h.

Structures, assays and receptors for locust adipokinetic hormones

This review is concerned mainly with the adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) of locusts: their molecular conformations, actions and functions and the development of microfiltration assays in vitro. The physiological significance of having multiple hormones with overlapping actions whose efficacy changes during development is discussed in relation to the possibility that these reflect variations in populations of receptors and/or the pharmacokinetics of the peptides. The involvement of second messengers in the transduction mechanism of AKHs is reviewed, and we describe hormone-induced changes of intracellular calcium in single dispersed fat body cells. The structure activity relationships of the three locust AKHs and a number of analogues with variations at the N- and C-termini are discussed. A number of areas are identified where there are gaps in our understanding of these hormones, and some of these will be the focus of our future research.

Binding proteins for a peptide hormone in the shrimp, Sicyonia ingentis: evidence from photoaffinity labeling with red pigment concentrating hormone analogs

Two photoaffinity analogs of the crustacean erythrophore (red pigment) concentrating hormone (RPCH) have been synthesized and shown to cause pigment concentration in the shrimp Sicyonia ingentis. These two modified oligopeptides have azidosalicylamide groups which allow introduction of an 125I label and enable photochemically induced covalent attachment to a specific binding site. Incubation of [125I]-ASA-Glu1-CC-2 with the 100,000g membrane pellet and cytosol fraction from epidermis, eyestalks, muscle, and central nervous system (CNS), followed by irradiation, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and autoradiography results in covalent modification of certain protein bands in the membranes of selected tissues. Two such proteins were observed in neural tissues and showed competitive displacement by excess RPCH, indicative of specific high-affinity binding. This is the first report of peptide hormone-binding proteins in an invertebrate and provides further evidence of a role for RPCH as a neurotransmitter in the CNS.