The Light Green Cells of Lymnaea: a neuroendocrine model system for stimulus-induced expression of multiple peptide genes in a single cell type: A neuroendocrine model system for stimulus-induced expression of multiple peptide genes in a single cell type

W. P. Geraerts, A. B. Smit, K. W. Li, P. L. Hordijk

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30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We review recent experiments showing that the cerebral neuroendocrine Light Green Cells (LGCs) of the freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, express a family of distinct though related molluscan insulin-related peptide (MIP) genes. The LGCs are involved in the regulation of a wide range of interrelated life processes associated with growth, (energy) metabolism and reproduction. We consider the mechanism of generation of diversity among MIPs, and present evidence that conditions with distinct effects on growth, metabolism and reproduction also can induce distinct patterns of expression of the MIP and schistosomin genes. The stimulus-dependent expression of multiple neuropeptide genes enormously increases the adaptive potential of a peptidergic neuron. We suggest that this contributes significantly to the information-handling capacity of the brain
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)464-473
Number of pages10
JournalExperientia
Volume48
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 1992

Keywords

  • evolution
  • generation of neuropeptide diversity
  • information-handling capacity
  • Molluscan insulin-related peptides
  • neuropeptide gene family
  • schistosomin
  • stimulus-dependent expression

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