东方粘虫的飞翔活动和脂肪酸利用

应用GC和GC-MS分析了东方粘虫Mythimna separata(Walker)成虫脂肪体、血淋巴和飞翔肌内总脂类脂肪酸组成.它们的组成成分为肉豆蔻酸(C14:0),棕榈酸(C16:0),棕榈油酸(C16:1),硬脂酸(C18:0),油酸(C18:2),亚油酸(C18:2)和亚麻酸(C18:3);组成百分率为1-2:35:9-11:1:32:12-17:3-6.在吊飞1h后,脂肪体内的脂肪酸水平显著下降(20μg/mg组织·h~(-1),血淋巴内脂肪酸浓度明显升高,然而,飞翔肌内脂肪酸含量的变化不明显.从脂肪体、血淋巴和飞翔肌内脂肪酸组成成分的百分率变化可以发现东方粘虫飞翔肌在飞翔活动中主要选择性利用棕榈酸和油酸.     

蓖麻蚕在变态期间代谢作用的研究——Ⅰ.蛹化前后脂肪体和血淋巴主要成分的变化

蓖麻蚕末龄幼虫的脂肪体干重、血淋巴体积和干重, 均随幼虫的生长而增加:并且雌体经常高于雄体。在蜕皮过程和吐丝以后的绝食期间, 这两种组织的含量减少;其中, 脂肪体的干重在前蛹期后才开始降低, 表明吐丝过程虫体干重的减少与脂肪体无相应关系。蓖麻蚕末龄幼虫血淋巴中主要醣类是海藻糖。上簇前血淋巴含醣量到达最高峰:雌体为1513.5毫克/100毫升, 雄体为1405.4毫克/100毫升。化蛹前后, 血淋巴中出现另种低分子醣, 此成分可能与几丁质的形成有关。血淋巴中脂肪酸含量的变化与血糖平行, 但份量较少:最高含量是在上簇前:雌雄分别为351.6毫克/100毫升和327.3毫克/100毫升。熟蚕期, 血淋巴中含氮物质的含量远比醣和脂肪酸为高:雌雄的血淋巴总氮分别到达2720毫克/100毫升和1840毫克/100毫升;但在上簇前总氮减少近一半, 其变化与丝腺的发育有关。糖元是蓖麻蚕脂肪体贮存的主要醣类, 它的含量随幼虫的生长而增加。上簇前雌雄幼虫的脂肪体分别含糖元20.0％和19.5％:在吐丝过程中脂肪体中的糖元显然发生水解。从上簇到化蛹, 糖元消耗达70％以上。此外, 脂肪体中的脂肪也随末龄幼虫的生长而增多:但雌雄幼虫的脂肪体中脂肪含量与糖元不同, 雌体高于雌体(雄体为59％, 雌体为50％)。在吐丝过程中脂肪继续在脂肪体中合成。从吐完丝到化蛹, 雌雄分别消耗33％和30％的脂肪。与糖元、脂肪变化相反的是脂肪体中的含氮物质。从五龄起蚕到上簇前, 幼虫脂肪体的总氮量比较恒定:雌雄分别保持6毫克/头和4毫克/头, 但由于其它成分含量的变化, 总氮的百分比含量在同期却减少约一半:吐完丝后, 脂肪体含氮物质总量比上簇前增加一倍半以上, 表明含氮物质的合成和积累。本工作表明蓖麻蚕在变态期间, 脂肪体与血淋巴不仅在贮存、转运以及代谢营养物质方面起着重要的作用, 而且雌雄含量也有显著差异。由此可见脂肪体与血淋巴在物质转化中所起的作用, 对保证昆虫有机体的正常生存、发育和生殖等方面显然是很重要的。     

胰岛素受体基因InR调控褐飞虱海藻糖代谢研究

在昆虫中已发现成熟的典型胰岛素信号通路,但是其调控海藻糖代谢途径的机制还未清晰。为探讨胰岛素受体基因在褐飞虱海藻糖代谢平衡及其发育的调控作用,本文采用RNAi技术抑制胰岛素受体(InR)基因的表达,测定处理后海藻糖、糖原和葡萄糖含量及海藻糖酶活变化,并检测InR、类胰岛素多肽(Ilp)、海藻糖代谢途径中关键基因的表达。研究结果表明dsRNA注射后能够显著抑制Ilp和InR基因的表达;InR1低表达后72 h能够显著抑制3种糖类物质的含量;InR表达抑制后72 h可溶性海藻糖酶活性上升,而膜结合型海藻糖酶活性下降;当InR表达受抑制后3个海藻糖酶和2个海藻糖合成酶基因的表达都显著下降。这些结果说明InR能够影响海藻糖等糖类物质的平衡。从而为将来通过调控昆虫血糖平衡来控制害虫提供理论依据。     

粘虫生殖的研究——Ⅱ.补充营养对生殖力的效应

粘虫成虫需补充取食糖类,方能完成飞翔(包括迁飞)、交配、产卵等活动。我们用了18种糖类来测定粘虫取食的范围,并观察糖类对生殖力的效应。试验结果表明:粘虫能取食葡萄糖、果糖、甘露糖、半乳糖、蔗糖、麦芽糖、海藻糖、棉子糖、甘油、甘露醇等,能完成正常生殖活动,产下数百粒卵,或上千粒卵,卵能孵化;但取食水、木糖、山梨糖、乳糖、糊精、淀粉、糖元等后,只能产下几粒卵,卵不能孵化。食量依糖液浓度而稍有变化,产卵前期取食量最高。 文中讨论各种糖的营养效价,并比较了各种糖类对不同昆虫生存、飞翔、生殖等效应的异同。     

管氏肿腿蜂寄生及注射其毒液对黄粉甲蛹营养代谢的影响

本文以肿腿蜂科管氏肿腿蜂Scleroderma guani为研究对象,研究该蜂寄生及毒液对寄主黄粉甲Tenebrio molitor蛹营养代谢的影响。通过Braford法、香兰素-浓硫酸法、蒽酮法和3’5-二硝基水杨酸法分别测定管氏肿腿蜂寄生及注射其毒液对黄粉甲蛹血淋巴和脂肪体中蛋白质、脂类和糖类含量的影响。研究发现管氏肿腿蜂寄生和注射其毒液能引起黄粉甲蛹血淋巴中的蛋白质含量增加和脂类含量下降,而脂肪体中的蛋白质含量减少和脂类含量升高。同时,该蜂寄生和注射其毒液,均能引起黄粉甲蛹血淋巴和脂肪体中的总糖、海藻糖和还原糖含量升高,但糖原含量下降。研究结果表明,管氏肿腿蜂毒液能调控寄主黄粉甲蛹血淋巴和脂肪体中营养物质的代谢,为揭示该蜂对寄主的营养代谢调控机制奠定了基础。     

柞蚕蛹滞育和滞育解除过程中海藻糖酶基因表达模式及酶活力分析

【目的】克隆柞蚕Antheraea pernyi海藻糖酶(trehalase,Treh)基因,探讨该基因在柞蚕蛹滞育和滞育解除过程中的表达模式与海藻糖酶活力变化,为阐明柞蚕蛹滞育期间糖代谢机制提供参考。【方法】利用RT-PCR技术从柞蚕蛹中克隆获得海藻糖酶基因,并对其进行生物信息学分析。采用半定量RT-PCR检测长光照(17L∶7D)处理后的滞育解除柞蚕蛹与对照滞育蛹不同组织中该基因的表达谱;采用实时定量PCR(qPCR)分析其在长光照下滞育解除过程中柞蚕蛹脂肪体中的相对表达量变化。利用3,5-二硝基水杨酸法检测脂肪体中海藻糖酶活力的变化,同时采用蒽酮比色法测定其血淋巴中海藻糖含量。【结果】克隆获得柞蚕3个海藻糖酶基因,分别命名为ApTreh1A,ApTreh1B和ApTreh2(GenBank登录号分别为:KU977455,KU977456和KU977457),开放阅读框(ORF)全长分别为1 797,1 635和1 932 bp,分别编码598,544和643个氨基酸。同源序列比对与系统进化树分析表明,ApTreh1A和ApTreh1B为可溶型海藻糖酶(Treh S),ApTreh2为膜结合型海藻糖酶(Treh M)。半定量RT-PCR检测发现,各组织中ApTreh2比ApTreh1的分布更广且表达量更高。qPCR检测发现,ApTreh1A和ApTreh1B在长光照处理后的柞蚕蛹脂肪体中,21 d时表达量都表现出快速升高[分别是对照组(12L∶12D)的2倍和4.7倍],28 d与35 d时下降,42 d时表达量再次升高;ApTreh2随着滞育的解除表达量逐渐升高,28 d时达到最高(约为对照组的2.7倍),42 d时又出现一个小高峰(约2.3倍),后期逐渐下降。长光照下脂肪体中海藻糖酶活力逐渐升高,21 d时达到最高(约18.5 U),35 d时降到最低(约11.2 U),42 d时其酶活力再次略微升高,之后呈下降趋势,与基因表达变化趋势一致。蛹血淋巴中海藻糖含量在长光照条件下呈现出升高趋势,21 d时达到最高,在整个发育时期的含量比对照组要高。【结论】本研究结果表明柞蚕蛹滞育解除过程中海藻糖酶基因表达的变化与蛹脂肪体中海藻糖酶活性、蛹血淋巴中海藻糖含量的变化趋势呈一致性,提示海藻糖酶基因的表达响应在柞蚕蛹滞育解除中发挥重要作用。     

白背飞虱海藻糖合成酶基因的表达特性及其在糖代谢调控中的作用

【目的】昆虫中海藻糖主要通过海藻糖合成酶(trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, TPS)在脂肪体中合成,当昆虫受极端环境胁迫时TPS能够诱导海藻糖累积从而起到保护作用。本研究旨在分析白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera两个TPS基因的发育和组织表达模式及其对糖类物质代谢调控功能,探究TPS基因在白背飞虱生长发育中的具体作用。【方法】基于实验室前期获得的两个海藻糖合成酶基因SfTPS1和SfTPS2片段序列,在本实验中也进行了基因克隆和测序筛选,比对两者确定了白背飞虱两个TPS基因序列。并通过MEGA 7.0软件构建基于氨基酸序列的白背飞虱与其他昆虫TPS的系统发育树。利用qRT-PCR技术检测这两个基因在白背飞虱不同发育阶段(4龄第1天若虫至3日龄成虫)和成虫不同组织(头、足、翅、中肠、脂肪体、表皮和马氏管)中的表达情况。合成这两个基因的dsRNA,并注射到白背飞虱5龄第1天若虫中进行RNAi。在RNAi 48和72 h后检测白背飞虱海藻糖酶基因TRE1-1,TRE1-2和TRE2的表达变化,海藻糖、葡萄糖和总糖原含量以及海藻糖酶活性。【结果】克隆获得白背飞虱SfTPS1和SfTPS2,ORF分别为2 424和2 115 bp,编码氨基酸数目分别为807个和704个,预测蛋白质分子量分别为90.37和80.56 kD,等电点分别为6.08和6.10。而且白背飞虱2个TPS氨基酸序列与褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens TPS1和TPS2的一致性最高。发育阶段表达模式表明,白背飞虱TPS基因SfTPS1和SfTPS2在4龄若虫到成虫阶段都有表达;组织表达模式表明,SfTPS1和SfTPS2在成虫马氏管、中肠和表皮中的表达较为显著。当SfTPS1被RNAi后,TRE1-1和TRE2的表达水平与对照组(dsGFP注射组)相比分别为略有上升和显著升高,TRE1-2的相对表达水平在SfTPS1被RNAi 48 h后显著上升而在72 h后显著下降;可溶性海藻糖酶活性无显著变化,膜结合型海藻糖酶活性显著增加;白背飞虱5龄若虫体内海藻糖、葡萄糖和总糖原含量显著上升。TRE1-2和TRE2基因的表达水平在SfTPS2被RNAi 48 h后显著升高,而在72 h后两基因的表达水平却显著下降;TRE1-1基因的表达水平在注射dsSfTPS2 48和72 h后均显著上升。可溶性海藻糖酶活性在SfTPS2被RNAi 48 h后显著下降,72 h后显著上升;膜结合型海藻糖酶活性在SfTPS2被RNAi 72 h后显著增加。白背飞虱5龄若虫体内葡萄糖含量在SfTPS2基因RNAi 48 h后显著减少,但在72 h后海藻糖、葡萄糖和总糖原含量显著上升。【结论】通过调节白背飞虱体内TPS基因的表达影响TRE1-1,TRE1-2及TRE2基因的表达水平,进而调控体内海藻糖的含量,该结果为后期采用TPS为靶标基因用于害虫防治提供理论依据。     

柞蚕蛹脂肪体和血淋巴中糖类含量动态的温度和光周期效应

本文研究了柞蚕Antheraea pernyti滞育蛹和非滞育蛹的糖类含量动态.两类柞蚕蛹血淋巴中所含糖类均为海藻糖和葡萄糖,但葡萄糖始终处于极低水平.滞育蛹的脂肪体糖原与血淋巴海藻糖之间存在相互转化的关系,这种转化受温度的制约.温度对于滞育的终止和海藻糖积累量影响很大.在保种温度范围内,滞育蛹接触低温越早,温度越低,海藻糖积累量越高.非滞育蛹即使经长期低温(0℃左右)处理,体内也不积累海藻糖,且耐寒力显著低于滞育蛹.在25℃条件下,光周期对滞育蛹和非滞育蛹的影响不同.     

几种植物源化合物对棉铃虫海藻糖酶活性及相关碳水化合物含量的影响

碳水化合物对昆虫的能量代谢和物质合成具有重要的作用。本研究选用2种一般性生物碱（氢溴酸东莨菪碱和烟碱）以及2种β-葡萄糖苷类化合物（七叶灵和皂角苷）, 研究其在不同浓度下对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)幼虫体内海藻糖酶活性及相关碳水化合物代谢的影响。结果表明: 用饲喂法处理3龄幼虫96 h后, 皂角苷对棉铃虫幼虫的活体抑制效果明显, 且随添加物浓度增高, 棉铃虫死亡率上升, 10, 20, 40 g/L浓度下棉铃虫的均重分别是0.194, 0.089和0.034 g, 分别为对照的86.99%, 39.91%和15.24%。对海藻糖酶活性及其相关代谢酶的测定结果表明, 2种苷类化合物显著抑制中肠海藻糖酶活性, 饲喂40 g/L皂角苷的试虫中肠海藻糖酶比活力仅是对照组的54.21%; 饲喂30 g/L七叶灵的试虫中肠海藻糖酶比活力为对照组的83.73%。而2种生物碱类化合物显著抑制血淋巴和脂肪体中海藻糖酶活性, 20 g/L氢溴酸东莨菪碱对棉铃虫血淋巴和脂肪体组织的海藻糖酶活性抑制率分别为7.24%和71.43%; 而20 g/L烟碱对试虫血淋巴和脂肪体组织的海藻糖酶活性抑制率为26.29%和33.44%。用氢溴酸东莨菪碱、 烟碱和七叶灵处理试虫后, 血淋巴海藻糖含量都有所增高。4种化合物能够导致试虫糖原磷酸化酶活性变化, 其中, 皂角苷在中肠和脂肪体表现为显著抑制作用, 而随外源化合物浓度变化, 糖原含量和糖原磷酸化酶活性表现为此消彼长关系。饲喂4种植物源化合物的试虫血淋巴中葡萄糖浓度变化和其海藻糖变化一致。本研究证明β-葡萄糖苷类化合物是海藻糖酶抑制剂, 在作为先导化合物进行农药创制开发方面具有重要意义。     

海藻糖酶基因TRE2-like和TRE2在异色瓢虫羽化过程中的表达与功能

【目的】异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis是一种重要的捕食性天敌昆虫,海藻糖在异色瓢虫的变态发育、羽化等整个生命过程都起着重要的作用。本研究以前期获得的类似膜结合型海藻糖酶(TRE2-like)与膜结合型海藻糖酶(TRE2)基因为基础,探讨在异色瓢虫羽化阶段这两个海藻糖酶的潜在功能,为阐明异色瓢虫从蛹发育到成虫时海藻糖代谢机制提供参考。【方法】根据TRE2-like和TRE2基因序列设计双链RNA(dsRNA)区域片段并合成对应的dsRNA,通过RNAi将其注射到异色瓢虫2日龄蛹中。采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测RNAi处理后羽化第1天的异色瓢虫成虫糖代谢相关基因的表达;同时采用蒽酮比色法、酶标法等分别测定RNAi处理后羽化第1天的异色瓢虫成虫主要糖类物质含量及TRE活性变化,并观察异色瓢虫羽化后的表型变化。【结果】结果表明,与对照组(dsGFP注射组)相比,异色瓢虫2日龄蛹被注射TRE2-like或TRE2 dsRNA后,其新羽化成虫体内TRE2-like和TRE2表达量均极显著下调,且少数个体出现了蜕皮与翅形成困难等畸形表型。可溶性海藻糖酶活性在注射dsTRE2-like后显著降低,膜结合型海藻糖酶活性在注射dsTRE2后显著降低;注射dsTRE2后糖原含量显著下降,注射dsTRE2-like后糖原和海藻糖含量显著下降,注射dsTRE2-like+dsTRE2后糖原和葡萄糖含量显著下降,且海藻糖含量极显著下降。注射dsTRE2-like, dsTRE2和dsTRE2-like+dsTRE2后可溶性海藻糖酶基因TRE1-1和TRE1-2表达下降或显著下降,而TRE1-5表达上升或显著上升,海藻糖合成酶(trealose-6-phosphate synthase, TPS)、糖原磷酸化酶(glycogen phosphorylase, GP)、糖原合成酶(glycogen synthase, GS)基因的表达均显著下调。【结论】TRE2-like和TRE2基因表达被抑制后,异色瓢虫海藻糖等代谢受到影响。研究结果为探究异色瓢虫体内膜结合型海藻糖酶的潜在功能和调控机制奠定了基础。     

Carbohydrate metabolism during starvation in the silkworm Bombyx mori

The effect of starvation on carbohydrate metabolism in the last instar larvae of the silkworm Bombyx mori was examined. Trehalose concentration in the hemolymph increased slightly during the first 6 h of starvation and decreased thereafter, whereas glucose concentration decreased rapidly immediately after diet deprivation. Starvation-induced hypertrehalosemia was completely inhibited by neck ligation, suggesting that starvation stimulates the release of a hypertrehalosemic factor(s) from the head. The percentage of active glycogen phosphorylase in the fat body increased within 3 h of starvation and its glycogen content decreased gradually. These observations suggest that production of trehalose from glycogen is enhanced in starved larvae. However, hypertrehalosemia during starvation cannot be explained by the increased supply of trehalose into hemolymph alone, as similar changes in phosphorylase activity and glycogen content in the fat body were observed in neck-ligated larvae, in which hemolymph trehalose concentration did not increase but decreased gradually. When injected into larvae, trehalose disappeared from hemolymph at a rate about 40% lower in starved larvae than neck-ligated larvae. The hemolymph lipid concentration increased during starvation, suggesting that an increased supply of lipids to tissues suppresses the consumption of hemolymph trehalose and this is an important factor in hypertrehalosemia.     

Flight metabolism in Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): the role of carbohydrates and lipids

The metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates related to flight activity in Panstrongylus megistus was investigated. Insects were subjected to different times of flight under laboratory conditions and changes in total lipids, lipophorin density and carbohydrates were followed in the hemolymph. Lipids and glycogen were also assayed in fat body and flight muscle. In resting insects, hemolymph lipids averaged 3.4 mg/ml and significantly increased after 45 min of flight (8.8 mg/ml, P < 0.001). High-density lipophorin was the sole lipoprotein observed in resting animals. A second fraction with lower density corresponding to low-density lipophorin appeared in insects subjected to flight. Particles from both fractions showed significant differences in diacylglycerol content and size. In resting insects, carbohydrate levels averaged 0.52 mg/ml. They sharply declined more than twofold after 15 min of flight, being undetectable in hemolymph of insects flown for 45 min. Lipid and glycogen from fat body and flight muscle decreased significantly after 45 min of flight. Taken together, the results indicate that P. megistus uses carbohydrates during the initiation of the flight after which, switching fuel for flight from carbohydrates to lipids.     

Carbohydrate metabolism in starved fifth instar larvae of Manduca sexta

The influence of starvation on carbohydrate metabolism in fifth instar larvae of Manduca sexta was studied. The percentage of active fat body glycogen phosphorylase increased from 10% to approximately 50% within 3 h of starvation; afterward the enzyme was slowly inactivated. The increase of phosphorylase activity might have been caused by a peptide(s) from the CC. The amount of fat body glycogen in starved animals decreased over 24 h by approximately 20 mg. The released glucose molecules seem to be converted mainly to trehalose because the hemolymph trehalose concentration in starved animals was always slightly higher than in the fed controls, and the glucose concentration decreased even when phosphorylase was activated. The chitosan content in starved larvae increased during the first 9 h of treatment to the same extent as in fed controls. It is suggested that fat body glycogen phosphorylase was activated during starvation to provide substrates for chitin synthesis and energy metabolism.     

Fat body fructose-2,6-bisphosphate content and phosphorylase activity correlate with changes in hemolymph glucose concentration during fasting and re-feeding in larval Manduca sexta

Fasting of second-day fifth instar larval Manduca sexta leads to a rapid decrease in hemolymph glucose concentration from 3.39+/-0.29 to 0.33+/-0.06 mM in 1 h, along with a decrease in the fructose-2,6-bisphosphate content in the fat body (from 5.92+/-0.31 to 2.80+/-0.47 nmol fructose-2,6-bisphosphate/g fat body in 3 h) and activation of fat body glycogen phosphorylase (from 16% to 55-65% phosphorylase a). During re-feeding an increase in the glucose level in the hemolymph was observed (from 0.36+/-0.05 to 3.91+/-0.36 mM in 3 h), along with an increase in the fructose-2,6-bisphosphate level in the fat body (from 2.88+/-0.47 to 6.66+/-0.42 nmol fructose-2,6-bisphosphate/g fat body in 3 h) and inactivation of fat body glycogen phosphorylase (from 56% to 16% phosphorylase a). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that a decrease in hemolymph glucose both activates fat body glycogen phosphorylase and causes a decrease in fat body fructose-2,6-bisphosphate content. Both of these changes would favor conversion of stored glucose to trehalose in the fat body. When second-day larvae were decapitated, the changes in hemolymph glucose and fat body fructose-2,6-bisphosphate were very similar to those observed in fasting whole insects. These data are consistent with a direct role for glucose in controlling carbohydrate metabolism in Manduca sexta.     

Correlation between concentration of hemolymph nutrients and amount of fat body consumed in lightly and heavily parasitized hosts (Pseudaletia separata)

Two states of parasitization in the Pseudaletia separata-Cotesia kariyai system were examined: one that was lightly parasitized and one that was heavily parasitized. We predicted that the consumption of fat body and hemolymph nutrients depends on the number of parasitoid larvae in the host. Lightly parasitized hosts (average clutch size+/-S.E.: 42.5+/-16.2, N=15) and heavily parasitized hosts (average clutch size+/-S.E.: 230.2+/-8.8, N=15) were prepared artificially. Eight days after parasitization, perivisceral fat body was depleted in the heavily parasitized host, although peripheral fat body was not yet consumed, but by day 10 most of the peripheral fat body was consumed. In lightly parasitized hosts, perivisceral fat body was not consumed by day 10. The parasitoid larvae deplete the perivisceral fat body first and then consume the peripheral fat body in the heavily parasitized host. The amount of trehalose, the major carbohydrate in the hemolymph, was related to the number of parasitoid larvae developing in the host. In a heavily parasitized host, trehalose concentrations remained low. However, in lightly parasitized hosts, the amount of trehalose increased 8 days after parasitization and then decreased by day 10. Protein and total lipid concentrations in the hemolymph of the heavily parasitized host were significantly lower than in lightly parasitized host on day 10, suggesting that the large number of parasitoid larvae depleted the fat body and hemolymph nutrients by day 10. High concentrations of total lipid on day 8 and 10 in lightly parasitized hosts and on day 8 in heavily parasitized host are likely to be attributed to the teratocytes.     

Effects of toxic β‐glucosides on carbohydrate metabolism in cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three toxic β‐glucosides, phlorizin, santonin, and amygdalin, on carbohydrate metabolism in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), when diets mixed with β‐glucosides were fed to third‐instar larvae. The growth of the larvae was significantly inhibited by exposure to santonin after 96 hr but not obviously affected by phlorizin and amygdalin. The midgut trehalase activities were only 51.7%, 32%, and 42.5% of that of the control after treatment with phlorizin, santonin and amygdalin at 2 mg/ml, respectively. In the hemolymph and fat body, the amount of trehalose decreased in all cases. However, the effects of santonin on the alteration of the glycogen and glucose levels as well as the activities of glycogen phosphorylase, were different than those of the other two β‐glucosides. It appears that the three β‐glucosides have different influences on the carbohydrate metabolism of cotton bollworm.     

Preface

The vector of Chagas' disease, Rhodnius prolixus, feeds exclusively on blood. The blood meals are slowly digested, and these insects wait some weeks before the next meal. During the life of an insect, energy‐requiring processes such as moulting, adult gonadal and reproductive growth, vitellogenesis, muscular activity, and fasting, lead to increased metabolism. Carbohydrates are a major source of energy and their mobilization is important. We determined the amounts of glycogen, trehalose, and glucose present in the fat body and/or hemolymph of adult males of R. prolixus and recorded the processes of accumulation and mobilization of these carbohydrates. We also tested our hypothesis that these processes are under endocrine control. The amount of glycogen in the fat body progressively increased until the fourth day after feeding (from 9.3±2.2 to 77. 3±7.5 µg/fat body), then declined to values around 36.3±4.9 µg/fat body on the fifteenth day after the blood meal. Glycogen synthesis was eliminated in decapitated insects and head‐transplanted insects synthesized glycogen. The amount of trehalose in the fat body increased until the sixth day after feeding (from 16. 6±1.7 to 40. 6±5.3 nmol/fat body), decreased abruptly, and stabilized between days 7 and 15 at values ranging around 15–19 nmol/fat body. Decapitated insects did not synthesize trehalose after feeding, and this effect was reversed in head‐transplanted insects. The concentration of trehalose in the hemolymph increased after the blood meal until the third day (from 0.07±0.01 to 0.75±0.05 mM) and at the fourth day it decreased until the ninth day (0.21±0.01 mM), when it increased again until the fourteenth day (0.79±0.06 mM) after the blood meal, and then declined again. In decapitated insects, trehalose concentrations did not increase soon after the blood meal and at the third day it was very low, but on the fourteenth day it was close to the control values. The concentration of glucose in the hemolymph of untreated insects remained low and constant (0.18±0.01 mM) during the 15 days after feeding, but in decapitated insects it progressively increased until the fifteenth day (2.00±0.10 mM). We recorded the highest trehalase activity in midgut, which was maximal at the eighth day after feeding (2,830±320 nmol of glucose/organ/h). We infer that in Rhodnius prolixus, the metabolism of glycogen, glucose, and trehalose are controlled by factors from the brain, according to physiological demands at different days after the blood meal. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Proline can be utilized as an energy substrate during flight of Aedes aegypti females

In order to determine whether proline can be utilized as fuel during flight of Aedes aegypti, proline, alanine, and glutamine concentrations were monitored at 0, 30 and 60 min after flight using sugar-fed males and females, and blood meal-fed females. In sugar-fed and blood meal-fed females, flight lead to a significant decrease in proline and a significant increase in glutamine concentration in both hemolymph and thorax. Only during flight after a blood meal was a significant increase in the alanine concentration observed in hemolymph. After flight, the proline alanine and glutamine levels in the hemolymph and thorax from males did not change significantly. In addition, activities of enzymes related to amino acid metabolism were assayed in homogenates of cephalothorax and thorax from both sexes, and in fat body and midgut from females. In both sexes, the activities of all the enzymes studied were significantly higher in thorax than in cephalothorax. The levels of the enzymes involved in proline oxidation were higher in thorax than in fat body and midgut. These results suggest that proline can be used as an energy substrate for flight muscle of Ae. aegypti females. However, the elevation in glutamine levels observed in hemolymph and thorax after flight has not been reported in other insects that fuel flight using proline and may suggest an additional mechanism for shuttling ammonia between flight muscle and fat body is present in mosquitoes.     

Partial restoration of dietary fat induced metabolic adaptations to training by 7 days of carbohydrate diet.

We tested the hypothesis that a shift to carbohydrate diet after prolonged adaptation to fat diet would lead to decreased glucose uptake and impaired muscle glycogen breakdown during exercise compared with ingestion of a carbohydrate diet all along. We studied 13 untrained men; 7 consumed a high-fat (Fat-CHO; 62% fat, 21% carbohydrate) and 6 a high-carbohydrate diet (CHO; 20% fat, 65% carbohydrate) for 7 wk, and thereafter both groups consumed the carbohydrate diet for an eighth week. Training was performed throughout. After 8 wk, during 60 min of exercise (71 +/- 1% pretraining maximal oxygen uptake) average leg glucose uptake (1.00 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.55 +/- 0.21 mmol/min) was lower (P < 0.05) in Fat-CHO than in CHO. The rate of muscle glycogen breakdown was similar (4.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.2 +/- 0.7 mmol. min(-1). kg dry wt(-1)) despite a significantly higher preexercise glycogen concentration (872 +/- 59 vs. 688 +/- 43 mmol/kg dry wt) in Fat-CHO than in CHO. In conclusion, shift to carbohydrate diet after prolonged adaptation to fat diet and training causes increased resting muscle glycogen levels but impaired leg glucose uptake and similar muscle glycogen breakdown, despite higher resting levels, compared with when the carbohydrate diet is consumed throughout training.