COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF NEUROPEPTIDES FROM THE CORPORA CARDIACA OF SOLITARY AND GREGARIOUS LOCUSTA

Neuropeptide content of the corpora cardiaca (CC) was studied in crowd ed (gregarious phase) and isolated (solitary phase) Locusta migratoria migratorioides adults, using electrophoretic, chromatographic, and im munological techniques. Quantitative differences were found in the thr ee neuropeptides investigated (neuroparsins, Lom-OMP, and APRP). The a mount of neuroparsin A was higher in the CC of crowded locusts. Neurop arsin B content of the CC was quite similar in isolated and crowded lo custs, or in some cases slightly higher in the latter. The comparative amounts of the ovary maturating parsin, Lom-OMP, in the CC were depen dent on the sexual maturation of the locusts, being nearly similar in maturing isolated locusts and immature crowded locusts, bur higher in crowded locusts when both phases were completely mature. The amount of AKH-precursor related peptides (APRP) was markedly and consistently h igher in the CC of isolated locusts. These findings are discussed in r elation to other physiological and ecological phase-dependent differen ces in locusts. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.