Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Miguel Pineiro, Wilson J. Mena, John J. Ewer, Patricio J. Orio
Summary: The study found that the activity of CCAP neurons is closely related to that of motoneurons during pupal ecdysis in fruit flies, suggesting an active role of CCAP neurons in the process. A new sub-phase of ecdysis behavior was identified, and a quantitative framework was developed to study the relationships between neuronal activity and motor behavior during this highly stereotyped motor sequence.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Lili Chen, Yuting Liu, Pan Su, Wesley Hung, Haiwen Li, Ya Wang, Zhongpu Yue, Ming-Hai Ge, Zheng-Xing Wu, Yan Zhang, Peng Fei, Li-Ming Chen, Louis Tao, Heng Mao, Mei Zhen, Shangbang Gao
Summary: This study found that the neuropeptide NLP-18 and its receptor CKR-1 regulate an escape circuit to execute a full turn. NLP-18 activates CKR-1 in the gustatory sensory neuron to modulate the head motor neuron and the turn-initiating interneuron, resulting in robust escape steering. This discovery reveals the neural mechanism behind the regulation of escape behavior.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Phaivit Laphyai, Thanapong Kruangkum, Charoonroj Chotwiwatthanakun, Wanita Semchuchot, Prawporn Thaijongrak, Prasert Sobhon, Pei-San Tsai, Rapeepun Vanichviriyakit
Summary: A novel gene PemVIH was identified and characterized in shrimp, Penaeus monodon, showing inhibitory role in vitellogenesis. This research provides insights into improving ovarian maturation in P. monodon without eyestalk ablation.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Michael F. Priest, Sara N. Freda, Isabelle J. Rieth, Deanna Badong, Vasin Dumrongprechachan, Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy
Summary: This study finds that most neurons in the non-cholinergic, centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus in mice are obligately peptidergic. These peptidergic populations activate in response to loss of motor control and promote anxiety responses. These findings advance our understanding of peptidergic modulation of anxiety.
Article
Biology
Thomas Fleming, Yukiko Kikuchi, Mikoto Nakajo, Masaya Tachizawa, Tomoaki Inazumi, Soken Tsuchiya, Yukihiko Sugimoto, Daisuke Saito, Mikita Suyama, Yasuyuki Ohkawa, Takashi Baba, Ken-ichirou Morohashi, Kataaki Okubo
Summary: In Japanese rice fish, the prostaglandin E-2/ptger4b signaling pathway regulates the activity of FeSP neurons and female receptivity to male courtship.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tyler R. Sizemore, Julius Jonaitis, Andrew M. Dacks
Summary: Neuromodulators like neuropeptides dynamically adjust sensory systems in response to the animal's needs, but it is unclear whether their modulation is uniform in sensory networks. In a study using the fly olfactory system, researchers found that myoinhibitory peptide (MIP) decreases olfactory input to some regions while increasing it in others, revealing that MIP acts non-uniformly via differential expression of inhibitory MIP receptors in different regions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Giulio Valperga, Mario de Bono
Summary: Animals that lose one sensory modality often exhibit enhanced responses to other sensory inputs, but the mechanisms underlying this cross-modal plasticity are not well understood. This study used a genetic screen in Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the mechanisms of enhanced O-2 perception. The results showed that mutants with increased O-2 responsiveness also displayed defects in other sensory responses. One mutant, qui-1, showed defects in pheromone-evoked Ca2+ responses but heightened responsiveness to pre-synaptic input from O-2-sensing neurons. Mutant profiling revealed extensive changes in gene expression, particularly in neuropeptide receptors. The study concluded that elevated expression of the neuropeptide receptor NPR-22 in the ADL neurons is necessary for enhanced neurosecretion in qui-1 mutants, suggesting that sensory loss can lead to cross-modal plasticity through changes in the peptidergic connectome.
Article
Biology
Sergio L. Crespo-Flores, Annika F. Barber
Summary: The Drosophila circadian clock circuit consists of 150 clock neurons that coordinate rhythmic behavior and physiology, and can be classified based on neuroanatomical location. Studies have identified novel subdivisions and neuropeptides expressed in the fly clock circuit, and have also discovered daily axonal remodeling in clock neurons. These findings raise new questions about the functional roles of clock neuron subpopulations and daily remodeling in regulating circadian behavior and physiology.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luis Alfonso Yanez-Guerra, Daniel Thiel, Gaspar Jekely
Summary: Neuropeptides are a diverse class of signaling molecules found in animals with a nervous system, but their origin has been unclear. This study identified two neuropeptide precursors, phoenixin and nesfatin, with broad evolutionary conservation across different animal lineages. These findings suggest that secreted neuropeptide homologs derived from longer precursors have premetazoan origins and evolved before neurons.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Stephen J. Smith
Summary: The primary function of neurons is communication with other neurons, which can take numerous forms such as fast synaptic transmission and slower neuromodulation. Neurons are diverse in their communication functions, and single-cell mRNA sequencing data shows evidence of a long evolutionary history and adaptive significance of localized peptidergic signaling between different species.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yunyi Xie, Kan Xiao, Tianyi Cai, Xuetao Shi, Lingling Zhou, Hejun Du, Jing Yang, Guangfu Hu
Summary: The study investigated the neuroendocrine system of Chinese sturgeon using transcriptome data and identified several neuropeptide and hormone genes involved in reproduction, growth, stress, and feeding. The findings suggest that Chinese sturgeon has a slow phenotypic evolution rate. Additionally, the study also revealed the localization of pituitary hormones in Chinese sturgeon.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Frank Hauser, Thomas L. Koch, Cornelis J. P. Grimmelikhuijzen
Summary: Bilateria are divided into Deuterostomia and Protostomia, both of which have neuropeptides and their GPCRs dating back to their common ancestor. Neuropeptides and GPCRs are also found in early-branching phyla, but the sequences are not closely related to those in Bilateria. LGRs, a special class of GPCRs, are present not only in Proto- and Deuterostomia, but also in Cnidaria and Placozoa. Sea anemones and placozoans have orthologues of human LGRs.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Han Gao, Yanxiao Li, Hui Zhang, Suisui Wang, Fan Feng, Jing Tang, Bin Li
Summary: This study identifies the diversity of neuropeptide systems and receptors in the bug Daktulosphaira vitifoliae. The differences in these systems compared to other insect orders provide a foundation for developing management strategies targeting this bug.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Encarnacion Torres, Inmaculada Velasco, Delphine Franssen, Violeta Heras, Francisco Gaytan, Silvia Leon, Victor M. Navarro, Rafael Pineda, M. Luz Candenas, Antonio Romero-Ruiz, Manuel Tena-Sempere
Summary: The study explored the role of NK2R in the neuroendocrine control of the reproductive axis using a novel Tacr2 knockout mouse model. Results showed that NK2R stimulation elicited LH responses in mice, with partial suppression of basal and stimulated LH secretion in Tacr2 knockout mice, impacting LH pulsatility and breeding intervals. NK2R plays a modest role in the gonadotropic axis, overlapping with other tachykinin receptors.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martino Caramia, Roman A. Romanov, Spyridon Syderomenos, Zsofia Hevesi, Ming Zhao, Marharyta Krasniakova, Zhi- Qing David Xu, Tibor Harkany, Tomas G. M. Hoekfelt
Summary: The locus coeruleus (LC), a small nucleus in the pons, plays a crucial role in the functioning of the central nervous system, particularly in wakefulness. This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify different subtypes of neurons in the LC and characterized their neuropeptide and receptor profiles. The results showed that NE neurons expressed various neuropeptide transcripts, with galanin being a notable one. Surprisingly, Galr1, a galanin receptor, was highly expressed in GABA neurons surrounding the NE ensemble. Functional experiments revealed that GalR1 agonist can inhibit a significant proportion of NE neurons. These findings provide insights into the role of the galanin system in NE function and have implications for understanding the actions of other peptides and their receptors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xiaomeng Li, Charles Brighton Ndandala, Qi Zhou, Chunyan Huang, Guangli Li, Huapu Chen
Summary: This study investigated the role of estrogen receptors (ERs) in vitellogenesis (Vtgs) regulation in pompano fish. The findings suggest that E2 may regulate the expression of different subtypes of vtg through ERs, displaying a compensatory expression effect on the regulation of ers and vtgs. This provides a theoretical basis for further research on reproductive endocrinology in pompano fish.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Norio Kansaku, Takeshi Ohkubo
Summary: Endocrine changes during bird reproduction, particularly the relationship between prolactin and incubation behavior, were investigated. The study monitored the physiological status and incubation behavior of Silkie hens over 1-2 years. The results showed that most mature hens exhibited incubation behavior multiple times, and there was a noticeable increase in nest occupancy 7-10 days before incubation onset. Protein analysis revealed that secreted prolactin during the reproductive cycle contains various isoforms, suggesting post-translational modifications like glycosylation and phosphorylation.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Minghui Li, Lina Sun, Linyan Zhou, Deshou Wang
Summary: This article summarizes the importance of the Nile tilapia as an excellent animal model for studying reproductive endocrinology in fish, with a focus on the crucial role of estrogen in female development.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Breanna N. Harris, Carolyn M. Bauer, James A. Carr, Caitlin R. Gabor, Jennifer L. Grindstaff, Caleigh Guoynes, Jennifer J. Heppner, Cris C. Ledon-Rettig, Patricia C. Lopes, Sharon E. Lynn, Carla B. Madelaire, Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Maria G. Palacios, Paul Soto, Jennifer Terry
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on academics, particularly on those with minoritized identities or who were early career, caregivers, or had intersecting identities. The pandemic altered the impact factors of academia, including scholarly products, and affected the way individuals could respond. It is predicted that the pandemic will have long-term impacts on the population dynamics, composition, and landscape of the academic ecosystem. The number of journal submissions decreased, especially among women authors, and the pandemic heavily impacted women authors from Asia and the Middle East.
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2024)