Summer Research

* Student(s): Kristin Patrick , Anna Arnold
Advisor: Herman Lehman

Title: Visualization of 20HE receptors and TÎ²H mRNA in the nervous system of the hawk moth, Manduca sexta

Abstract:

Octopamine is a neurotransmitter that is developmentally regulated in the insect nervous system during metamorphosis. Steroid hormones, specifically 20-HE, are responsible for the regulation of octopamine in the nervous system of the Manduca sexta. Tyramine Î²-hydroxylase (TÎ²H) is an essential enzyme for the synthesis of octopamine. Levels of TÎ²H have been shown to increase throughout Manduca development (Lehman et al., 2000). In order to understand the link between steroid hormones and octopamine synthesis, we have used immunocytochemistry and in-situ hybridization methods to visualize steroid hormone receptors and TÎ²H mRNA at different stages of development. We suggest that the mechanism of octopamine synthesis induction via steroid hormone receptors may be relatively uncomplicated if steroid hormone receptor expression and TÎ²H transcription are co-localized and temporally correlated in the abdominal ganglia of developing nervous system of Manduca sexta.

Summer stipend support for AA was provided by the Merck/AAAS grant and support for KP was provided by a Schambach grant.