Ultrastructure of the muscles of the dorsal diaphragm in Locusta migratoria

Summary The alary muscles of Locusta migratoria adults make up the major tissue of the dorsal diaphragm which separates pericardial and perivisceral sinuses in the abdomen. The alary muscles are striated with a sarcomere at rest measuring about 9 m. The Z-line has a staggered-beaded arrangement with A-bands and I-bands readily discernable. Thick myofilaments are surrounded by 10 or more thin filaments. The sarcoplasm has few mitochondria near the area of the Z-line, dyads are present and sarcoplasmic reticulum is poorly developed. Axons which innervate the alary muscle are either contained within invaginated folds of the sarcolemma of the muscle cells or the muscle cells send finger-like projections to envelop the axons. The synaptic terminals contain synaptic vesicles between 40 and 45 nm in diameter and a few electron-dense granules near or less than 170 nm in diameter. Away from synaptic terminals the axon profiles show few or no granules. The axons are accompanied everywhere by well-developed glial cells. This then is not typical neurosecretomotor innervation, however, the presence of electron-dense granules suggests the possibility of peptidergic neurotransmission.     

东北地区亚洲飞蝗染色体核型分析

采用常规压片法对吉林省亚洲飞蝗Locusta migratoria migratoria(L.)的染色体核型进行分析.研究结果表明:亚洲飞蝗性别决定机制为X0型,染色体数目为2n♂=23,染色体组式4L+4M+3S+X,全部为端部着丝粒染色体,NF=23.染色体中最长(L1)与最短(S11)染色体之比大于4:1,臂比大...     

Cuticle protein in Locusta migratoria

• 1.1. The total protein content and the soluble proteins of the cuticle of male fifth instar and newly moulted adult locusts were analysed.
• 2.2. Protein was deposited in cuticle in a stepwise manner whereas chitin deposition was continuous.
• 3.3. Resorption of cuticular protein preceded resorption of chitin following apolysis.
• 4.4. Immunological and electrophoretic analyses indicated that certain cuticular proteins were also present in the haemolymph.
• 5.5. Certain water soluble proteins appeared to be characteristic of the newly deposited cuticle and were presumably bound to the cuticular matrix as development continued.
• 6.6. Despite an increase in total soluble protein following apolysis, no evidence of new proteins was detected. It was deduced that the initial step in protein resorption from the old cuticle is the release of the protein from its cuticular bonds.

     

Funktionsstrukturen im Oocytenkern von Locusta migratoria

Examination of living oocyte nuclei of Locusta migratoria has revealed the presence of thread-like struktures. They are paired and are thought to be the uncoiled chromosomes since they are broken into fragments by treatment with DNase. The greater part of the threads carries lateral loops like the lampbrush chromosomes of Amphibia (Fig. 14). A smaller part has no loops hut bears a series of conspicious granules with bright appearance under positive phase contrast optics (pearl-string segments) (Fig. 2). — The visibility of the chromosomes has been investigated in solutions with several ions. In hypertonic media the chromosomes contract, the granules fuse, and the pearl-string segments become lumpy (Fig. 21). In nitrogenous atmosphere and if kept at low temperature the pearl-string structures are likewise transformed into a few lumps (Fig. 19). After return to normal conditions they reconstitute their characteristic beaded appearance. — In autoradiographs obtained by injection of H³-uridine into the body cavity and by incubation of isolated nuclei in vitro, a rather uniformly distributed labelling occurs over the oocyte nuclei up to 30 min incubation time (Fig. 23). With prolonged incubation the activity of the pearl-string segments becomes more intense than the labelling of the lampbrush chromosomes (Fig. 24). After treatment with actinomycin RNA synthesis is stopped, the pearl-string axes and the lampbrush chromosomes contract, and the granules disappear more and more (Figs. 25-28). — The pearlstring segments look very much like the nucleoli in the oocytes of Amphibia, where the nucleolar substance is likewise distributed as a series of beads of rather uniform size on an axis. Therefore, the pearl-string structures may have nucleolar function in Locusta too. If so, the only difference to the Amphibian nucleoli would be the continued attachment to the lampbrush chromosomes.     

Flight orientation of swarming Locusta migratoria

ABSTRACT. High-speed films of four swarms of Locusta migratoria in Australia and one swarm in New Guinea were analysed. Measurements were made of the locust's body orientation and flight track in the horizontal relative to wind direction, and of height and speed of flight. In all swarms mean course angle and mean track angle in relation to wind direction were significantly different from zero, although all indicated an upwind direction. No evidence was found for orientation to compass direction or sun. Considerable fluctuations in flight direction were measured in some individuals as they traversed the field of view. A modification of Kennedy's (1951) theory is adopted to explain the angled orientations to wind. It is suggested that this could be the result of an optical orientation mechanism.     

亚洲飞蝗不同发育阶段取食习性的研究

为探明亚洲飞蝗食物选择机制及寄主植物对其生长发育的影响,基于对比称重法、取食频数测定和人工饲喂方式,对亚洲飞蝗不同龄期食量变化、对不同寄主植物喜食程度及主要寄主植物对其生长发育的影响进行研究。结果表明:雌性飞蝗4龄至成虫阶段日取食量分别为0.39±0.02、0.50±0.02、0.75±0.07 g/d。雄性飞蝗4龄至成虫阶段的日取食量分别为0.30±0.06、0.41±0.03、0.71±0.11 g/d。同性别亚洲飞蝗不同发育阶段日取食量间均存在极显著差异。选取小麦、玉米、芦苇、早熟禾、苜蓿、冷蒿等植物,进行取食频数测定。亚洲飞蝗3龄蝗蝻喜食小麦和芦苇,少食苜蓿和早熟禾,偶食玉米,不食冷蒿。4龄蝗蝻嗜食玉米,喜食小麦,少食芦苇,偶食早熟禾,不食苜蓿和冷蒿;5龄蝗蝻喜食小麦,少食芦苇、玉米和早熟禾,偶食苜蓿,不食冷蒿。成虫喜食小麦和玉米,少食芦苇和早熟禾,不食苜蓿和冷蒿。分别以小麦、玉米、芦苇及三者同比例混合物饲养亚洲飞蝗3龄、4龄、5龄蝗蝻后,不同龄期蝗蝻发育历期、交配次数、产卵次数均存在极显著差异。亚洲飞蝗随着年龄段的增长取食量逐渐增加,而亚洲飞蝗同一发育阶段雌性与雄性取食量之间没有显著差异。亚洲飞蝗在每个年龄段对不同的寄主植物具有选择性,主要取食的寄主植物为小麦、玉米和芦苇。与单种饲料饲养相比,以混合饲料饲养的亚洲飞蝗发育历期最短,交配次数最少,产卵次数最多。不同寄主植物对其生长发育有显著的影响。     

Chiasma distribution in asynaptic Locusta migratoria

The formation of chiasmata in six full sib male partially asynaptic individuals of Locusta migratoria has been studied. The mean chiasma frequency per cell was 2.3 both at diplotene and metaphase I. Chiasmata tended to be distributed evenly among the bivalents. The frequency and distribution of the chiasmata in each type of bivalent (L, M, or S) depended on the level of asynapsis and on interference between the bivalents. Short bivalents were the most affected by interference, while M bivalents associated independently of L and S bivalent behaviour.     

Ecdysteroids During Embryogenesis in Locusta migratoria

SYNOPSIS. Ovaries of Locusta migratoria synthesize large amountsof ecdysteroids at the end of oöcyte maturation. The predominantecdysteroids in mature ovaries are conjugated 2-deoxyecdysone(100 µM) and conjugated ecdysone (50 µM) which outnumberthe corresponding free compounds by 50–100 fold. Thesevarious ecdysteroids persist during ovulation and are recoveredfrom newly-laid eggs. The conjugated maternal ecdysteroids aregradually metabolized as embryonic development proceeds; theyhave disappeared as such on day 6 after oviposition, that isafter blastokinesis and shortly after dorsal closure. Concomitantlyto this metabolism of the maternal conjugated ecdysteroids,other ecdysteroid conjugates appear in the eggs which have differentchromatographic behaviors and some of which are conjugates ofecdysone metabolites formed by the embryo. The data availableso far are compatible with the hypothesis that the maternalconjugates are hydrolysed to free 2-deoxyecdysone and ecdysoneby the embryo during early stages of development and subsequentlyconjugated to inactivation compounds. During the later stagesof embryonic development however, a de novo synthesis of ecdysoneis probable, the maternal conjugates having been metabolizedduring the earlier stages.     

西藏飞蝗的生物学特性

西藏飞蝗Locusta.migratoria tibetensis Chen在四川甘孜州1年发生1代,某些地方(乡城县)1年发生不完整的2代,即以卵越冬,翌年3月下旬开始孵化出土,4月中、下旬为孵化盛期,1~3龄始盛期为4月中旬~5月中旬,高峰期为5月下旬,7月上旬初始羽化,7月下旬~8月上旬为羽化盛期,8月上旬始见产卵,8月下旬~9月上旬为产卵盛期,第1代成虫较早产下的卵块在条件适宜的情况下可于当年9月上旬孵化出土,但孵化出的蝗蝻不能越冬。该虫卵、全蝻期及全世代的发育起点温度分别为14.2,16.1,14.6℃,有效积温为179.1日.度、360.0日.度、787.8日.度。在18,21,24,27和30℃等5种恒温条件下其平均世代历期214.4,133.3,79.2,66.3和50.7d。     

Purification and characterization of Locusta migratoria chymotrypsin

A chymotrypsin-like enzyme (CTLE) was isolated from the digestive tract of the African migratory locust Locusta migratoria migratorioides by ion-exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose followed by affinity chromatography on phenylbutylamine (PBA) Sepharose. The purity and homogeneity of CTLE have been shown by SDS-PAGE and on cellulose acetate strips. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 24,000, determined by SDS-PAGE and on a Sephadex G-75 calibrated column. It has an isoelectric point of 10.1 and contains 0-1 half cystine residues. Sequence analysis of the first 20 N-terminal amino acids has shown 25% homology with bovine chymotrypsin and 40% homology with Vespa crabo and Vespa orientalis chymotrypsins and with Hypoderma lineatum trypsin. The optimal pH for enzyme activity and stability was in the range of 8.5-9.0. The Km and kcat values, determined on substrates for proteolytic, esterolytic and amidolytic activity, similar to those for bovine chymotrypsin. CTLE was inactivated by PMSF and TPCK indicating the involvement of serine and histidine in its active site. The enzyme was fully inhibited by the proteinaceous, double-headed, chymotrypsin-trypsin inhibitors BBI from soybeans and CI from chickpeas, by chicken ovomucoid (COM) and turkey ovomucoid (TOM), as well as by the Kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) which hardly inhibits bovine chymotrypsin. Inhibition studies of CTLE with amino acid and peptide-chloromethylketones point towards the existence of an extended binding site.     

Histochemical observations of the haemocytes of Locusta migratoria.

Five of the six categories of haemocytes of Locusta migratoria, that is, the plasmatocytes, spherule cells, granulocytes, coagulocytes and oenocytoids, contain conspicuous granules of mucosubstance in their cytoplasm. The mucosubstance has been characterized by using a series of histochemical tests, including Alcian Blue staining at different pH levels and salt concentrations, the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) test, the high iron diamine test, enzymatic digestions and sequential staining methods. The results indicate that four different mucosubstances occur in a granular form, although not all four are found in every blood cell type. The mucosubstances are a neutral glycoprotein and neuraminidase-resistant, sulphated and non-sulphated sialomucins. The non-sulphated sialomucin occurs in both periodate-reactive and -unreactive forms.     

Chemo-discriminatory neurones in the sub-oesophageal ganglion of Locusta migratoria

The sub-oesophageal ganglion of Locusta migratoria was searched for neurones responsive to stimulation of the maxillary palps using intracellular recording techniques. Two plant stimuli were used: wheat, a host plant and cabbage, an unacceptable non-host plant. The stimuli were presented to the palp as both intact leaf tissue and as droplets of aqueous solutions of plant extracts. All the sampled neurones that responded to stimulation of the palp also responded to simple mechanical stimulation. However, 25% of the neurones exhibited consistent differences in response to the two plants when presented as both leaf tissue and droplets, strongly suggesting that they also received a chemosensory input. These differential responses most commonly took the form of differences in the duration of cell activity and/or variation in the latency of the onset of response. The receptive fields of differentially responding neurones were confined to the maxillary palp, or at most to the maxillary and labial palps.     

东亚飞蝗外生殖器的显微结构

利用扫描电镜技术观测了东亚飞蝗Locusta migratoria manilensis(Meyen)雌雄个体外生殖器的显微构造,描述了雌雄两性外生殖器的具体结构以及其表面上感受器的分布情况。雌性的外生殖器由背、腹产卵瓣构成,雄性的外生殖器由外骨骼所包被的阳具基背片和阳具复合体构成。在雌雄两性的外生殖器表面着生有大量的感受器,包括毛形、刺形、锥形,主要是机械感受器,还有少量化学感受器。     

X-linkage of a vitellogenin gene in Locusta migratoria

Hybridization of a cloned DNA probe to blots of restriction digests of Locusta migratoria genomic DNA showed that a vitellogenin gene is present at one copy per haploid genome in females, and at only one-half that number in males. The genomic region encompassing the 3′-coding end of the gene is polymorphic, as revealed by blots of DNA from individual locusts. DNA from some female locusts yielded two variants in this region, whereas a series of male locusts showed one variant or the other, but never both. The results demonstrate that the vitellogenin gene, which is normally expressed only in females, is X-linked in L. migratoria.     

东亚飞蝗谷胱甘肽S-转移酶分离纯化

通过硫酸铵沉淀技术和GSH-agarose亲和层析对东亚飞蝗Locusta migratoria manilensis(Meyen)5龄若虫谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferases,GSTs)进行了分离纯化。结果表明GSTs活性在硫酸铵各沉淀段均有分布,但在55%～100%沉淀段活性较高,在硫酸铵饱和度为85%时比活力最高,达到420.33μmol/min/mg protein,纯化倍数为18.86。根据硫酸铵粗沉淀谷胱甘肽S-转移酶结果,选择硫酸铵浓度为60%～90%沉淀段进行GSH-agarose亲和层析,纯化后比活力最高达到1365.29μmol/min/mg protein,纯化倍数达到61.25。经SDS-PAGE鉴定,得到的GST为1条带,亚基的分子量约为24kDa。     

飞蝗羧酸酯酶基因LmCarE25的体外重组表达

羧酸酯酶(Carboxylesterase,CarE)是一类在生物中广泛分布的多功能家族酶系,在昆虫抗药性形成机制中发挥重要作用。为探讨飞蝗Locusta migratoria(Meyen)羧酸酯酶基因LmCarE25的生物学功能,本文采用荧光实时定量PCR技术进行研究,发现其在飞蝗成虫各组织部位均有表达,其中胃盲囊、翅和肌肉中表达量较低,中肠、马氏管和脂肪体表达量较高。本文尝试在大肠杆菌和昆虫细胞体外重组表达该酶,构建重组表达载体pET32a-LmCarE25,SDS-PAGE结果显示,LmCarE25可在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)和JM109中表达,蛋白分子量约为60 ku,但为包涵体;将LmCarE25基因插入真核表达载体pFastBacHTA中,借助Bac-to-Bac体系获得重组Bacmid,以sf9细胞系作为宿主细胞表达目的蛋白,Western-Blot检测结果显示,LmCarE25获得可溶性表达。上述结果为进一步深入研究飞蝗羧酸酯酶家族功能提供了基础资料。     

Organ-specific distribution of the calcium sensor CaMKII in Locusta migratoria

The Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase CaMKII is a key signaling component in Ca(2+)-dependent physiological processes. The expression and function of CaMKII in insect brain is well documented but less investigated for other tissues of insects. The present study demonstrates that in the locust Locusta migratoria CaMKII is widely expressed in various tissues. Relatively high expression levels of CaMKII were found in the brain, upper part of the digestive tract (pharynx, esophagus), and the flight and leg muscles. The different expression patterns of CaMKII in various tissues, as well as different molecular masses of CaMKII between 48 and 60 kDa indicate a tissue-specific expression of CaMKII variants. The expression was monitored with a polyclonal anti-(rat)CaMKII antibody. About 60% of total CaMKII activity in flight muscle cells is associated to the myofibril-rich, particulate fraction suggesting an important role of CaMKII in sarcomeric function.