Froggett S J, Leise E M
Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402-6174.
Biol Bull. 1999 Feb;196(1):57-62. doi: 10.2307/1543167.
Metamorphosis is a crucial life-history event that can change an organism's form, function, behavior, and ecological interactions. In the Mollusca, several neurotransmitters and neuromodulators play inductive or inhibitory roles in the pathways that govern larval metamorphosis. Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in developmental processes in vertebrates and arthropods, but not previously in molluscs. We determined that NO donors block pharmacologically induced metamorphosis in the mud snail Ilyanassa obsoleta, whereas injections of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) allow competent larvae to become juveniles. We describe a new developmental role for NO, as an endogenous inhibitor of molluscan metamorphosis.
变态是一个关键的生活史事件，它可以改变生物体的形态、功能、行为和生态相互作用。在软体动物中，几种神经递质和神经调质在控制幼虫变态的途径中发挥诱导或抑制作用。一氧化氮（NO）已被证明参与脊椎动物和节肢动物的发育过程，但此前在软体动物中尚未有相关报道。我们发现，NO供体可阻断泥螺（Ilyanassa obsoleta）中药物诱导的变态，而注射一氧化氮合酶（NOS）抑制剂则可使具备变态能力的幼虫发育为幼体。我们描述了NO作为软体动物变态的内源性抑制剂的一种新的发育作用。
