Is methyl farnesoate a crustacean hormone?

Methyl farnesoate (MF) is a unepoxidated form of insect juvenile hormone (JH) III that is secreted by the mandibular organ (MO) in several crustaceans. MF was first isolated from the hemolymph of the spider crab Libinia emarginata. Recent studies suggest that MF is involved in the regulation of reproduction, molting, larval development, morphogenesis, behaviour and general protein synthesis in crustaceans. MF synthesis and secretion is negatively regulated by an eyestalk peptide, called mandibular organ-inhibiting hormone (MO-IH). In the present review, I have tried to summarize the recent studies on the role of MF in regulating crustacean molting, reproduction, osmoregulation, morphogenesis, metabolism, behavior, etc. I present, both direct and indirect evidence that support the role of MF as a bona fide hormone in crustaceans.