Insect Cardioactive Peptides in Manduca Sexta: A Comparison of the Biochemical And Molecular Characteristics of Cardioactive Peptides in Larvae and Adults

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Abstract
The role of neurally derived peptides affecting insect visceral muscle has been explored by many investigators over the past thirty years (e.g. Raabe, 1982; Miller, 1985; Huddart, 1985). One set of myoactive neuropeptides that have been well characterized physiologically is the cardioacceleratory peptides (CAPs) found in the tobacco hawkmoth Manduca sexta. The CAPs act as cardioregulatory neurohormones in the adult moth, increasing heart rate during wing inflation (Tublitz and Truman, 1985a,b; Tublitz and Evans, 1986) and flight (Tublitz, 1989). In addition to their involvement in adult behaviour, one of the CAPs, CAP2, has been implicated in the modulation of the embryonic hindgut in Manduca sexta. Broadie et al. (1990) demonstrated that CAP2 is released in the latter half of embryonic development to aid in the digestion of extra-embryonic yolk by stimulating frequency of gut contractures. This interpretation was supported by quantitative immunocytochemical studies using an anti-CAP monoclonal antibody to identify a group of central nervous system (CNS) neurones that were CAP-immunoreactive (Broadie et al. 1990).

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