The neural and peptidergic control of gut contraction in Locusta migratoria: the effect of an FGLa/AST
This week we honour Ph.D. student Lisa Robertson (Lange Lab) as she nears the end of her degree at UTM. Lisa recently published her paper in The Journal of Experimental Biology. In this paper she examines the importance of a FGLa-type allatostatin neuropeptide in the regulation of gut muscle activity in locusts. Her results show that there is a central pattern generator within the ventricular ganglion of the stomatogastric nervous system that directs gut contractions and this CPG is modulated by Scg-AST-6. These results are important because they show FGLa-type allatostatins may contribute to the complex regulation of gut peristalsis.
You can hear more about Lisa’s exciting work at her exit seminar on Nov. 22!