昆虫神经系统和神经干细胞的研究进展

Progress of Studies in Insect Nervous System and Neural Stem Cell

昆虫的神经系统属于腹神经索型,控制着激素分泌、进食、运动以及支配内脏器官的活动,与脊椎动物的神经系统相比较,其结构简单易于实验操作。对昆虫神经系统的研究,可发现特异性靶标细胞,用于开发新型环保杀虫剂等。此外,昆虫神经干细胞的分裂、分化调控机制与脊椎动物甚至人类有很多的相似性,因而对昆虫神经干细胞的研究可为人类退化性神经疾病研究提供借鉴。本文着重阐述昆虫特别是果蝇的神经系统结构,神经细胞的类型,成神经细胞(neuroblasts,NBs)以及神经干细胞分裂、分化调控机制等方面的研究进展,期望能为开展家蚕神经干细胞的研究提供参考。

The nervous system of insect is a type of ventral nerve cord, which controls hormone secretion, feeding, mo- tion, and activities of the internal organs. Compared to vertebrates, insect nervous system has a simple structure and is easy to operate in experiment. Studies on insect nervous system could identify specific target cells for development of novel environmental friendly pesticides. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of insect neural stem cell division and differ- entiation resemble those of vertebrate even human beings. Therefore, investigations related to insect stem cells could provide references for studying human diseases from nerve degeneration. This article focuses on the progress of studies in structure of nervous system, types of neural cells, neuroblasts, and the regulatory mechanism of neural stem cell division and differentiation of insect especially of Drosophila melanogaster, in the hope of providing references for studying neural stem cells of silkworm, Bombyx moil.