INSECT NEUROSECRETION IN VITRO

The use of cell and organ culture for the study of insect neurosecretionis a relatively new methodology that is developing rapidly.Recent studies indicate that although it is possible to correlatethe presence of stainable neurosecretory material and electrondenseneurosecretory granules with the presence of neurohormones insome systems, the actual release of the hormone can be detectedonly by bioassay. Bioassay systems for both tropic hormonesand peptide metabolic hormones have been used to demonstratethe synthesis, storage, and release of neurohormones by culturedneuroendocrine organs. The experimental flexibility permittedby in vitro techniques is rapidly making it the method of choicein neuroendocrinological studies.