The Regulation of Crustacean Development and Reproduction

虽然甲壳类动物的发育和繁殖受到激素的调节，但人们对所涉及的激素的身份和作用知之甚少。这项研究项目将研究法尼苏酸甲酯，这是一种新发现的甲壳类化合物，其化学结构类似于昆虫中存在的保幼激素。由于保幼激素调节昆虫发育和繁殖的许多重要方面，似乎法尼苏酸甲酯对甲壳类动物也有同样有效的影响。关于金合欢酸甲酯作用的信息应增加我们对甲壳类生理学的了解，这些信息可能对龙虾、虾、蟹和小龙虾等经济重要甲壳类物种的水产养殖有相当大的帮助。

Although the development and reproduction of crustaceans are known to be hormonally regulated, the identities and roles of the hormones involved are poorly understood. This research project will study methyl farnesoate, a newly discovered crustacean compound that is chemically similar to juvenile hormone that is present in insects. Since juvenile hormone regulates many important aspects of insect development and reproduction, it seems likely that methyl farnesoate has equally potent effects on crustaceans. Information about the roles of methyl farnesoate should increase our understanding of crustacean physiology, information that may be of considerable utility in the aquaculture of economically important crustacean species, such as lobsters, shrimp, crabs and crawfish.