The sesquiterpenoid juvenile hormone(s) (JHs) of insects are the primary regulators of growth, metamorphosis, and reproduction in most insect species. As a consequence, it is essential that JH production be precisely regulated so that it is present only during appropriate periods necessary for the control of these processes. The presence of JH at inappropriate times results in disruption to metamorphosis and development and, in some cases, to disturbances in female reproduction. Neuropeptides regulate the timing and production of JH by the corpora allata. Allatostatin and allatotropin were the names coined for neuropeptides that serve as inhibitors or stimulators of JH biosynthesis, respectively. Three different allatostatin neuropeptide families are capable of inhibiting juvenile hormone but only one family is utilized for that purpose dependent on the insect studied. The function of allatotropin also varies in different insects. These neuropeptides are pleiotropic in function acting on diverse physiological processes in different insects such as muscle contraction, sleep and neuromodulation. Genome projects and expression studies have assigned individual neuropeptide families to their respective receptors. An understanding of the localization of these receptors is providing clues as to how numerous peptide families might be integrated in regulating physiological functions. In recent years microRNAs have been identified that down-regulate enzymes and transcription factors that are involved in the biosynthesis and action of juvenile hormone.

中文翻译：

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幼激素产生的神经肽和microRNA调节剂。

昆虫的倍半萜类幼体激素（JHs）是大多数昆虫物种中生长，变态和繁殖的主要调节剂。因此，至关重要的是要精确地调节JH的生产，以使其仅在控制这些过程所必需的适当时期内出现。JH在不适当的时间出现会导致变形和发育中断，在某些情况下会导致女性生殖功能障碍。神经肽通过体集调节JH的时间和产生。Allatostatin和allatotropin是分别用作JH生物合成抑制剂或刺激剂的神经肽的名称。三个不同的阿托伐他汀神经肽家族能够抑制幼体激素，但根据所研究的昆虫，只有一个家族用于抑制幼体激素。在不同的昆虫中，Allatotropin的功能也有所不同。这些神经肽在功能上具有多效性，可作用于不同昆虫的各种生理过程中，例如肌肉收缩，睡眠和神经调节。基因组计划和表达研究已将单个神经肽家族分配给它们各自的受体。对这些受体的定位的理解提供了关于如何在调节生理功能中整合许多肽家族的线索。