The Regulation of Crustacean Development and Reproduction

虽然甲壳类动物的发育和繁殖是受激素调节的，但所涉及的激素的身份和作用却知之甚少。这个研究项目将研究一种新发现的甲壳类化合物——法尼索酸甲酯，其化学性质与存在于昆虫体内的幼年激素相似。由于幼虫激素调节着昆虫发育和繁殖的许多重要方面，似乎法尼索酸甲酯对甲壳类动物也有同样有效的作用。有关法诺酸甲酯作用的信息将增加我们对甲壳类动物生理学的理解，这些信息可能对龙虾、虾、蟹和小龙虾等经济上重要的甲壳类动物的水产养殖有相当大的用处。

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.