Comparative quantitative aspects of putative neurotransmitters in the central nervous system of spiders (Arachnida: Araneida)

Meyer, Wilfried; Schlesinger, Christa; Poehling, Hans‐Michael; Ruge, W

doi:10.1016/0742-8413(84)90098-7

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Similar results were also obtained for other ant species tested so far ( Solenopsis invicta : Punzo & Glancey, ; C. floridanus : Punzo & Williams, ), for the honeybee (Fuchs et al ., ) and for several other insects such as the cockroach Periplaneta americana Linnaeus (Ray, ; Osborne & Neuhoff, ), the flies Musca domestica Linnaeus and Sarcophaga barbata Thomson, and the locust of the genus Schistocerca (Clarke & Donnellan, ). The reverse situation (predominance of GABA over Glu in the CNS) was also reported in invertebrates (Meyer et al ., : spiders from the families Agelenidae, Araneidae and Lycosidae), but it seems to be much less frequent than predominance of Glu over GABA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Brain GABA and glutamate levels in workers of two ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Interspecific differences and effects of queen presence/absence

et al. 2013

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Presence of amino acid neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) in ant brains was reported in very few studies. To learn more about factors influencing GABA and Glu levels in ant brains, we applied high-performance liquid chromatography to measure levels of these compounds in single brains of workers of 2 ant species, Myrmica ruginodis (subfamily Myrmicinae) and Formica polyctena (subfamily Formicinae) taken from queenright/queenless colony fragments and tested in dyadic aggression tests consisting of an encounter with a nestmate, an alien conspecific or a small cricket. Brain glutamate levels were higher than those of GABA in both tested species. Brain GABA levels (in μmol/brain) and GABA : Glu ratio were higher in M. ruginodis (a submissive species) than in F. polyctena (a dominant, aggressive species) in spite of smaller brain weight of M. ruginodis. Brain glutamate levels (in μmol/brain) did not differ between the tested species, which implies that glutamate concentration (in μmol/mg of brain tissue) was higher in M. ruginodis. Queen absence was associated with increased worker brain GABA levels in F. polyctena, but not in M. ruginodis. No significant effects of opponent type were discovered. As GABA agonists enhance friendly social behavior in rodents, we hypothesize that elevated brain GABA levels of orphaned workers of F. polyctena facilitate the adoption of a new queen. This is the first report providing information on GABA and glutamate levels in single ant brains and documenting the effects of queen presence/absence on brain levels of amino acid neurotransmitters in workers of social Hymenoptera.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Brain GABA and glutamate levels in workers of two ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Interspecific differences and effects of queen presence/absence

et al. 2013

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“…Tolerance to organophosphorous insecticides may be due to extraordinary levels of AChE (Levitin & Cohen, 1998) or to the presence of non-inhibitable AChE (Byrne et al, 1994). Both ACh and AChE have been localised in the central nervous system of wolf spiders (Meyer & Idel, 1977;Meyer et al, 1984). As response variables we measured the survivorship of spiders treated topically with a high dose of dimethoate compared to control spiders, and AChE activity of the surviving individuals compared to control spiders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hunger level and nutrient balance on survival and acetylcholinesterase activity of dimethoate exposed wolf spiders

Pedersen

Dall

Sorensen

et al. 2002

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The influence of two nutritional factors (food quantity and quality) on the responses of a wolf spider, Pardosa prativaga (L.K.), to a high dose of the insecticide dimethoate, was investigated in a fully factorial experimental design. Spider groups with different (good and bad) nutrient balance were created by feeding them fruit flies of either high or low nutrient content for 28 days. Both groups were then split into satiated and 14 days starved subgroups. Each of these was further divided into insecticide treated and control halves. Survivorship and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity measured on the survivors were used as response variables. Survivorship after topical dimethoate exposure (LD50; 48 h) was influenced by spider body weight, nutrient balance, and starvation. Furthermore, AChE activity was significantly inhibited by dimethoate exposure. A significant interaction between nutrient balance, starvation, and dimethoate exposure revealed synergistic effects of starvation and nutrient imbalance on AChE inhibition by dimethoate in surviving spiders. These results show that the tolerance of non‐target arthropods to dimethoate may vary depending on the nutritional history of the animal.

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“…), and several biogenic amines (e.g., histamine, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) (Meyer et al . ; Schmid et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the comparison of GABA‐like immunoreactivity in spiders with insects reveals a similar staining pattern in the visual system (Meyer et al . ; Nässel ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunoreactivity of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) Isoforms in the Central Nervous System of the Barn Spider, Araneus cavaticus

Moon

Tillinghast

2012

Entomological Research

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The γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) has long been considered as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) of both vertebrates and arthropods. Since the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has a restricted tissue distribution and catalyzes the conversion of L‐glutamate to GABA, immunoreactivity of GAD isoforms can reveal distribution of GABAergic neurons in the CNS. In the CNS of the spider Araneus cavaticus, immunoreactivity of GAD isoforms can be detected in the optic lobes including neurons and neuropiles of the supraesophageal ganglia. Strong GAD‐like immunoreactive cell bodies are concentrated in two bilaterally symmetric cell clusters of the protocerebrum. Some intrinsic cell bodies near the central body also show strong immunoreactivity. However, the intrinsic nerve masses and some of the longitudinal and transverse tracts within the supraesophageal ganglion are only lightly labelled, and the fibers transverse the hemisphere and the central fibrous masses are not labelled. Among the three basic types of cell bodies surrounding the central body, several clusters of the Type‐C cells show strong GAD‐like immunoreactivity, however both of the Type‐A and Type‐B cells are not labelled at all.

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Comparative quantitative aspects of putative neurotransmitters in the central nervous system of spiders (Arachnida: Araneida)

Cited by 16 publications

References 25 publications

Brain GABA and glutamate levels in workers of two ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Interspecific differences and effects of queen presence/absence

Brain GABA and glutamate levels in workers of two ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Interspecific differences and effects of queen presence/absence

Effects of hunger level and nutrient balance on survival and acetylcholinesterase activity of dimethoate exposed wolf spiders

Immunoreactivity of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) Isoforms in the Central Nervous System of the Barn Spider, Araneus cavaticus

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