INHIBITING AND STIMULATING NEUROPEPTIDES CONTROLLING REPRODUCTION IN CRUSTACEA

Studies on the control of reproduction in crustaceans have, for the mo st part, dealt with the regulation of female reproduction. However, no t a great deal of attention has been paid to cellular interactions of the neurohormones involved in this regulation. In this contribution re cent data on inhibitory and stimulatory neuropeptides are discussed an d reflections are made on their importance for further application-dir ected research. Attention is paid to: histophysiological events in the oocytes during vitellogenesis; biochemical aspects of the regulating neuropeptides and cytological localization of these neuropeptides in t he neuroendocrine system. Opportunities for further research are ident ified and appraised in light of the knowledge reviewed.