Ye Haihui

In vitro study of neuroendocrine regulation over the testicular development in mud crabs Scylla serrata

The reproductive endocrine activities of neuroendocrine organs and androgenic glands (AG) in maleScylla serrata were investigated with co-incubation technology.In vitro studies show that: (1) the AG in Stage III can significantly accelerate the development of seminiferous tubules and spermic maturation; (2) the brain, thoracic ganglia and optic ganglia have no direct influence over the testicular development; (3) the brain and thoracic ganglia can significantly promote the growth of the AG cells and highly significantly boost the ratio of Type B cells, while the optic ganglia have no such effects. It is the first time forin vitro investigations to confirm that the brain and thoracic ganglia can regulate, testicular development through AG in male crustaceans.

Immunocytochemical localization of neuropeptide Y,serotonin,substance P and β-endorphin in optic ganglia and brain of Metapenaeus ensis

By using immunocytochemistry method of Strept Avidin-Biotin-Complex, four kinds of antisera raised against rabbits were applied to observe the immunoreactive neurons and neuropils of serotonin (5-HT), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP) and β-Endorphin (β-Ep) in optic ganglia and brain ofMetapenaeus ensis. The results showed that, the 5-HT-immunoreactive cells were located in all the four neuropils of optic ganglia. Immunoreactivity of 5-HT was detected in anterior medial protocerebrum neuropils (AMPN), and the inner and outer lateral beside olfactory lobe (OL) of deutocerebrum. The presence of NPY-immunoreactive cells was found in all the four neuropils of the optic ganglia. NPY-immunoreactivity occurred in the anterior median cell cluster, lateral cell cluster of protocerebrum, and cell cluster beside OL and AMPN. SP-immunoreactivity was found in medulla terminalis (MT) of optic ganglia, and lateral cell cluster of protocerebrum and posterior lateral cell cluster of tritocerebrum. β-Ep-immunoreactive cells were in MT only. In conclusion, these specific distribution patterns of the four immunoreactive substances can be used as morphological clues for understanding their different neurophysiological functions.