The Light Green Cells of Lymnaea: a neuroendocrine model system for stimulus-induced expression of multiple peptide genes in a single cell type
Geraerts, W.P.; Smit, A.B.; Li, K.W.; Hordijk, P.L.
Experientia 48(5): 464-473
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-4754 PMID: 1601111 Document Number: 390414
Recent experiments were reviewed, showing that the cerebral neuroendocrine light green cells (LGCs) of L. 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. It is considered that 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. It is suggested that this contributes significantly to the information-handling capacity of the brain.