The tetrapeptide apgw-amide induces somatic growth in haliotis asinina linnaeus

• Main Authors: Piyachat Chansela, Porncharn Saitongdee, Praphaporn Stewart, Nantawan Soonklang, Peter J. Hanna, Prarinyaporn Nuurai, Tanes Poomtong, Prasert Sobhon
• Other Authors: Mahidol University
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Agricultural and Biological Sciences
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/28440

APGW-amide is a well-known neurohormone modulator in several molluscs, and is involved in motor activities, feeding, and sexual behavior. In this report we show that injections of APGW-amide into 4-mo-old juvenile Haliotis asinina stimulate growth of body weight and, to a lesser degree, shell length. The injections were given at 0 (control), 20, and 200 ng/g body weight (BW), at 1-wk intervals for 14 wk. BW and shell length (SL) were measured every week, and growth rates were calculated. When compared with control animals, there was an approximate 2-fold increase in body growth rates of animals given 20 ng/g BW and 200 ng/g BW APGW-amide (P ≤ 0.05), whereas only 20 ng/g BW APGW-amide produced significantly greater SL than controls (P ≤ 0.05), with an approximate 1.2-fold increase. Using an immunoperoxidase technique, we showed the presence of APGW-amide in neuronal cells of the cerebral ganglia and nerve fibers. Overall, these data indicate that APGW-amide is an important neurohormone/neuromodulator in the nervous system of H. asinina and plays a role in controlling the body growth of H. asinina. .