Neuropeptides

The hormonal regulation of insect physiological events is under the control of the “Neuroendocrin’ system”, which includes neurosecretory cells and endocrine glands (corpora cardiaca, corpora allata, and prothoracic glands, midgut, FB, ovaries and testes). Insect neuropeptides are a group of short peptides (5 to about 40 amino acid residues) synthesized by central nerveous system. Insect neuropeptides are involved in various physiological events, such as growth and development, metamorphosis, molting, digestion, lipid metabolism, and mating and reproduction. We particularly focus on the insect glucagon AKH, the insulin-like peptides, allatotropin, as well as the FMR Famide-related peptides and in particular their roles in insect biology.