Neuroendocrine hormones and signaling systems in sea cucumbers

Sea cucumbers occupy a special evolutionary space between Protostomia and Chordates and are widely studied in comparative endocrinology to provide insight into the evolutionary origins of neurohormone signaling systems in vertebrates. This chapter summarizes research progress in nonpeptide hormones, neuropeptides, and the signaling systems in multiple sea cucumber species, with an outlook on neuroendocrine biology in echinoderms and prospects for using neurohormone products in sea cucumber aquaculture.