Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON, Canada.
J Insect Sci. 2009;9:1-14. doi: 10.1673/031.009.5701.
Current hypotheses propose that, in the invertebrates, neuropeptide F (NPF), the vertebrate NPY homologue, may be capable of regulating responses to diverse cues related to nutritional status and feeding. An investigation into the effects of Drosophila melanogaster NPF (DrmNPF) and Anopheles gambiae NPF (AngNPF) on hindgut physiology of Rhodnius prolixus Stal (Heimptera: Reduviidae) suggests a myoinhibitory role for these peptides and the R. prolixus native peptide. Extracts of the central nervous system of R. prolixus were processed and several HPLC-fractions revealed NPF-like activity within the nanomolar equivalent range when tested using the hindgut contraction assay. Although NPF has been shown to decrease epithelial membrane potential in Aedes aegypti larval midgut preparations, NPF does not appear to play a role in epithelial transport of potassium in the hindgut. While the function of NPF has yet to be established, NPF-like effects suggest multiple physiological roles for NPF among invertebrates.
目前的假说提出，在无脊椎动物中，神经肽 F（NPF），即脊椎动物 NPY 同源物，可能能够调节与营养状况和摄食有关的多种信号的反应。对黑腹果蝇 NPF（DrmNPF）和冈比亚按蚊 NPF（AngNPF）对丽蝇 Prolixus Stal（半翅目：红蝽科）后肠生理学的影响的研究表明，这些肽和丽蝇 Prolixus 天然肽具有肌抑制作用。丽蝇 Prolixus 的中枢神经系统提取物经过处理，使用后肠收缩测定法检测到几种 HPLC 级分在纳摩尔当量范围内具有 NPF 样活性。尽管 NPF 已被证明可降低埃及伊蚊幼虫中肠制剂的上皮膜电位，但 NPF 似乎在 hindgut 中钾的上皮转运中不起作用。虽然 NPF 的功能尚未确定，但 NPF 样作用表明 NPF 在无脊椎动物中具有多种生理作用。
