Neuroreceptor mechanisms in insect gustation: a pharmacological approach

Mullin, Christopher A.; Chyb, Sylwester; Eichenseer, Herbert; Hollister, Benedict; Frazier, James L.

doi:10.1016/0022-1910(94)90130-9

Cited by 74 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 111 publications

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“…This idea is novel, since there is little evidence for classical strychnine-sensitive, glycine-type receptors in insects (Kerkut, 1985; Table 1), and it arose from studies of antifeedants that exhibited PTX-like effects in the western corn rootworm (Mullin et al, 1994). The silphinenes (Fig.…”

Section: Gaba Receptor As An Insecticide Targetmentioning

confidence: 98%

Chloride channels as tools for developing selective insecticides

Bloomquist

2003

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

231

111

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Ligand-gated chloride channels underlie inhibition in excitable membranes and are proven target sites for insecticides. The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(1)) receptor/chloride ionophore complex is the primary site of action for a number of currently used insecticides, such as lindane, endosulfan, and fipronil. These compounds act as antagonists by stabilizing nonconducting conformations of the chloride channel. Blockage of the GABA-gated chloride channel reduces neuronal inhibition, which leads to hyperexcitation of the central nervous system, convulsions, and death. We recently investigated the mode of action of the silphinenes, plant-derived natural compounds that structurally resemble picrotoxinin. These materials antagonize the action of GABA on insect neurons and block GABA-mediated chloride uptake into mouse brain synaptoneurosomes in a noncompetitive manner. In mammals, avermectins have a blocking action on the GABA-gated chloride channel consistent with a coarse tremor, whereas at longer times and higher concentrations, activation of the channel suppresses neuronal activity. Invertebrates display ataxia, paralysis, and death as the predominant signs of poisoning, with a glutamate-gated chloride channel playing a major role. Additional target sites for the avermectins or other chloride channel-directed compounds might include receptors gated by histamine, serotonin, or acetylcholine.The voltage-sensitive chloride channels form another large gene family of chloride channels. Voltage-dependent chloride channels are involved in a number of physiological processes including: maintenance of electrical excitability, chloride ion secretion and resorption, intravesicular acidification, and cell volume regulation. A subset of these channels is affected by convulsants and insecticides in mammals, although the role they play in acute lethality in insects is unclear. Given the wide range of functions that they mediate, these channels are also potential targets for insecticide development.

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Section: Gaba Receptor As An Insecticide Targetmentioning

confidence: 98%

Chloride channels as tools for developing selective insecticides

Bloomquist

2003

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

231

111

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“…Glendinning, unpubl.). Little is known, however, about the nature of the signaling pathways in deterrent taste cells (Mullin et al, 1994;Glendinning et al, 2000b). Several recent reports indicate that signaling pathways for sugars in Dipteran taste cells involve directly gated ion channels (Murakami & Kijima, 2000) and G protein-coupled receptors (Ishimoto et al, 2000;Dahanukar et al, 2001).…”

Section: Mechanisms For Detecting Noxious Secondary Plant Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do herbivorous insects cope with noxious secondary plant compounds in their diet?

Glendinning

2002

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Herbivorous insects use a variety of physiological mechanisms to cope with noxious (i.e., unpalatable and/or toxic) compounds in their food plants. Here, I review what is known about this coping process, focusing on one species of caterpillar, the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta). Herbivorous insects possess both preingestive (i.e., chemosensory) and postingestive response mechanisms for detecting plant secondary compounds. Stimulation of either class of detection mechanism inhibits feeding rapidly by reducing biting rate and/or bite size. This aversive response is highly adaptive during encounters with secondary plant compounds that are toxic. The insect's dilemma is that many harmless or mildly toxic compounds also activate the aversive response. To overcome this dilemma, herbivorous insects employ at least three mechanisms for selectively deactivating their aversive response to relatively harmless secondary plant compounds: (1) the presence of carbohydrates can mask the unpalatable taste of some secondary plant compounds; (2) prolonged dietary exposure to some unpalatable secondary plant compounds can initiate long-term adaptation mechanisms in the peripheral and central gustatory system; and (3) dietary exposure to toxic compounds can induce production of P450 detoxication enzymes. Thus, herbivorous insects utilize an integrated suite of physiological mechanisms to detect potentially toxic compounds in foods, and then selectively adapt to those that do not pose a serious threat to their growth and survivorship.

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“…In this diet, gamma-amino butyric acid was included because of its phagostimulatory effect in many insect orders (Mullin et al, 1994). However, this effect has not yet been demonstrated in ants, so this substance may be dispensible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a chemically defined diet for ants

Straka

Feldhaar

2007

Insect. Soc.

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A chemically defined diet is a useful tool for the study of nutritional physiology of organisms. We have developed such a diet for Camponotus carpenter ants to facilitate experiments on nutritional requirements of these ants. Worker colonies of Camponotus floridanus were fed with a chemically defined diet, containing all essential minerals, amino acids, vitamins, growth factors and sucrose in an agar matrix. After 13 weeks, neither the number of raised pupae, their dry weight, nor the mortality of workers in subcolonies fed with this diet differed significantly from control colonies fed with Bhatkar-Whitcomb-agar, in addition to cockroaches and diluted honey. Therefore, this diet is adequate for a normal brood production and a maximal growth rate of C. floridanus larvae, at least for a period of three months. This diet should be suitable for ants that are able to feed on agar-based food resources in general.

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Neuroreceptor mechanisms in insect gustation: a pharmacological approach

Cited by 74 publications

References 111 publications

Chloride channels as tools for developing selective insecticides

Chloride channels as tools for developing selective insecticides

How do herbivorous insects cope with noxious secondary plant compounds in their diet?

Development of a chemically defined diet for ants

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