Functional Differentiation of Neurosecretory Cells with Immunoreactive Diapause Hormone and Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide of the Moth, Bombyx mori

Abstract

The suboesophageal ganglion of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, contains three clusters of neurosecretory cells that are imrnunoreactive with antisera against the diapause hormone (DH) and the pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN), the two neurohormones that are generated from a common precursor protein. The cells lie on the ventral midline of the ganglion. Neurosecretory cell clusters responsible for the diapause induction activity and the pheromonotropic activity of females were determined by surgically removing one or two of the three clusters of the DH/ PBAN imrnunoreactive cells. A potent diapause induction activity was obtained in females retaining a posterior cluster of cells while a strong pheromonotropic activity was obtained in case of females with a medial cluster. The functional differentiation of these cells may relate to different biochemical and/or physiological natures.