Deuterostome invertebrates, including echinoderms, hemichordates, cephalochordates, and urochordates, exhibit common and species-specific morphological, developmental, physiological, and behavioral characteristics that are regulated by neuroendocrine and nervous systems. Over the past 15 years, omics, genetic, and/or physiological studies on deuterostome invertebrates have identified low-molecular-weight transmitters, neuropeptides and their cognate receptors, and have clarified their various biological functions. In particular, there has been increasing interest on the neuroendocrine and nervous systems of Ciona intestinalis Type A, which belongs to the subphylum Urochordata and occupies the critical phylogenetic position as the closest relative of vertebrates. During the developmental stage, gamma-aminobutylic acid, D-serine, and gonadotropin-releasing hormones regulate metamorphosis of Ciona. In adults, the neuropeptidergic mechanisms underlying ovarian follicle growth, oocyte maturation, and ovulation have been elucidated. This review article provides the most recent and fundamental knowledge of the neuroendocrine and nervous systems of Ciona, and their evolutionary aspects.

后口动物无脊椎动物，包括棘皮动物、半索动物、头索动物和尾索动物，表现出受神经内分泌和神经系统调节的常见和物种特异性的形态、发育、生理和行为特征。在过去的 15 年里，对后口动物无脊椎动物的组学、遗传和/或生理学研究已经鉴定出低分子量递质、神经肽及其同源受体，并阐明了它们的各种生物学功能。特别是，A型海鞘的神经内分泌和神经系统越来越受到人们的关注，它属于尾索动物亚门，作为脊椎动物的近亲，在系统发育中占据着重要的地位。在发育阶段，γ-氨基丁酸、D-丝氨酸和促性腺激素释放激素调节玻璃海鞘的变态。在成人中，卵泡生长、卵母细胞成熟和排卵的神经肽能机制已被阐明。这篇综述文章提供了海鞘神经内分泌和神经系统及其进化方面的最新和基础知识。