Visual and olfactory cue interaction in resource-location by the blowfly, Lucilia sericata

Abstract. The interactions between olfactory and visual cues in the landing responses of the blowfly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were examined in a laboratory wind tunnel. The odour of liver and sodium sulphide solution released at 1 L/min, resulted in a greater number of landings, closer to, but downwind of, the central odour release point, than when odour was absent. Three-day-old protein-deprived females landed in greater numbers than protein-fed female flies of the same age; no difference existed between 6-day-old protein-fed or protein-deprived females. Six-day-old, protein-fed flies landed closer to the odour source than did 3-day-old, protein-fed flies. In the presence of odour, flies landed closer to the central release point when it was accompanied by a visual cue. No such effect of the visual cue was evident in the absence of odour. When a plain white sticky-surface (25 × 25 cm) was paired with an identical white surface plus odour, approximately equal numbers of flies landed when the surfaces were placed together; increasingly higher numbers of flies landed on the surface with the odour cue when the distance between the surfaces was increased. When a white surface with a visual cue was presented with the plain white surface plus odour, more flies landed on the white surface with the visual cue than on the plain white surface with odour when they were close together. However, as these two surfaces were moved apart, flies landed increasingly more on the surface with the odour than the surface with the visual cue. The results show that while odour cues may enhance the induction of landing by female L. sericata , visual cues are important when selecting a final landing site.     

Effets d'un régulateur de croissance d'insectes,le fénoxycarbe,sur la diapause du psylle du poirier Cacopsylla pyri

The nature of the responses of the sheep blowfly Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to carrion odours and carbon dioxide were examined in a windtunnel in the laboratory and the attractiveness of carrion-bait was examined in the field. In the wind tunnel, gravid 9-day-old females increased both the number and duration of their flights, in response to carrion odours. In addition, linear velocity was reduced and the sinuosity of flight increased in the presence of these odours. With 3-day-old females, the response to carrrion odour depended on previous exposure to proteinaceous material. Protein deprived females showed kinetic responses to carrionodour which were similar to those of gravid females. No such changes were observed in protein-fed females. No responses to CO₂ were observed. In the field, the importance of olfactory cues in bait location was demonstrated by the absence of L. sericata from sticky targets lacking an odour bait. Increased bait concentration did not affect the age, sex ratio or ratio of L. sericata to other Lucilia spp. caught, but did increase the numbers caught. Analysis of the reproductive status of females caught, indicated that a greater number of gravid females were caught than expected, while a lower number of females in the final stages of vitellogenesis were caught than expected. The results show that the responses of L. sericata to odours are complex, and are dependent on both exogenous and endogenous stimuli, the latter including the stage of ovarian development.     

Ribonucleic acid labelling perfused livers of protein-fed and protein-deprived rats

Several observations suggest an increased RNA synthesis in livers of protein-deprived rats, though the RNA/DNA ratio is decreased. A number of hormones may be involved in these changes. Therefore, we studied in RNA metabolism in isolated perfused livers taken from protein-fed and protein-deprived rats. (3H)-orotic acid was given to the rats 2 h before liver explantation, and (14C)-orotic acid was added to the perfusate. Other rats, called controls in vivo, whose livers were not transplanted were also given (3H)-orotic acid followed by (14C)-orotic acid. The livers of these rats, which were not hormone supplemented, were labelled for the same length of times as the livers in vitro. The ratio specific RNA radioactivity/specific nucleotide radioactivity x RNA/DNA was determined and taken as a measure of the RNA synthesis per liver cell. In the controls in vivo, this ratio was significantly higher for protein-deprived than for protein-fed rats. In livers from the protein-fed rats, labelling in vitro increased significantly when growth hormone, hydrocortisone, insulin and tri-iodothyronine were added to the perfusate. Labelling was also significantly higher in these livers than in the controls in vivo. In livers from protein-deprived rats, the ratio in question was the same whether the hormones were added to the perfusate or not, and was significantly lower than in the controls in vivo. Differences in RNA labelling are thus obtained in our in vitro system. Gel electrophoresis of RNA demonstrated normal RNA labelling, showing that the system is suitable for studying liver RNA synthesis. Further refinement can be made by studying the labelling of UTP and CTP. The results might suggest that the liver from a protein-fed rat, explanted in vitro, may increase its RNA synthesis under the influence of the four hormones in question, and that the RNA synthesis of the liver of a protein-deprived rat is high in-vivo and that it might decrease, when it is explanted to in vitro conditions.     

Effectiveness of GF-120 fruit fly bait spray applied to border area plants for control of melon flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

In a field study in Hawaii, color-marked protein-deprived and protein-fed female melon flies, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett, were released within canopies of unsprayed sorghum plants (a nonhost of melon flies) outside of a border area of unsprayed or bait-sprayed sorghum plants or open space that surrounded cucumbers, a favored host of melon flies. Application of bait spray to sorghum or sugarcane surrounding host plants of melon flies is a common practice for melon fly control in Hawaii. GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait spray proved very effective in preventing protein-deprived females from alighting on cucumbers (23% of released females were observed dead on bait-sprayed sorghum; 0% were observed alive on cucumbers), but proved less effective in suppressing protein-fed females (14% of released females were observed dead on bait-sprayed sorghum; 11% were observed alive on cucumbers). No females were found dead on unsprayed sorghum. Compared with open space surrounding cucumbers, the presence of unsprayed sorghum as surrounding border area neither significantly enhanced nor significantly inhibited the ability of either type of female with respect to finding cucumbers. Greenhouse cage assays revealed that compared with droplets of water, droplets of GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait spray were highly attractive to protein-deprived females within 1 h of bait spray application to sorghum, but lost about half of their attractiveness within 5 h and all of it within 24 h under the dry greenhouse conditions used for maintaining baited-sprayed sorghum plants in these assays. Laboratory cup assays showed that bait spray droplets remained highly toxic to protein-deprived females 24 h after application, but lost nearly half of their toxicity within 4 d under laboratory exposure and nearly all of it after approximately 8 mm of rainfall. Combined findings suggest that application of GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait spray to nonhost plants for melon fly control either be made often enough to overcome loss of attractiveness of bait spray droplets to females or that bait spray be applied to nonhost plants that are themselves attractive to the females.     

Effects of larval diet on development rates and reproductive maturation of male and female Mediterranean fruit flies

Abstract Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae are capable of developing in one of many hosts that may vary greatly in quality. We hypothesized that they will respond to the larval environment in a manner beneficial to their subsequent reproductive performance. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of various larval diets (varying in the amount of protein and sugar they contain) on the size, development time, nutritional status and reproductive maturation (ovarian development and onset of sexual behaviour) of females and males. We found that flies which undergo larval development in artificial host fruit that contain sugar and protein ('protein-fed') were larger, developed faster and emerged with more nutritional reserves than flies that were protein-deprived as larvae. Protein-fed males, regardless of their size, became sexually active before males that developed in hosts with no protein. Protein-fed females produced more mature eggs than protein-deprived ones. Moreover, protein-fed females tended to copulate sooner than females that developed in hosts with no protein. In addition, regardless of female larval diet, females with more mature eggs tended to copulate sooner than females with less mature eggs. In light of these results, the importance of the larval environment for adult reproductive success is discussed.     

Feeding history effects on feeding responses of Rhagoletis indifferens (Dipt., Tephritidae) to GF-120 and Nulure

Abstract:  Effects of feeding history on feeding responses of western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, to the commercial protein baits GF-120 and Nulure were determined in the laboratory. Flies were kept on 5% sucrose alone or yeast extract and sucrose (Y + S) for 3–7 or 14–16 days and exposed to 24-h-old GF-120 or Nulure drops on artificial leaves. Numbers and durations of feeding events on leaves and durations of non-feeding events were recorded over 1-h periods. Experiments were also conducted to determine effects of Y + S feeding sequences on responses to Nulure, of starvation after sucrose or Y + S feeding on responses to Nulure, and of feeding history on mortality after exposure to GF-120 and Nulure. Protein-deprived flies consistently fed more times on GF-120 and Nulure than protein-fed flies and fed longer. One day of exposure to Y + S or 16 h of starvation after exposure to sucrose caused greater feeding on Nulure than 7 days of exposure to Y + S or 16 h of starvation after exposure to Y + S. Durations of non-feeding events on leaves with sucrose or bait were similar in protein-deprived and -fed flies. Responses of 4- to 6-day-old flies kept on sucrose to 0- and 24-h-old GF-120 or Nulure were similar. More flies kept on sucrose were paralysed or dead at 6–32 h after exposure to GF-120 or Nulure with spinosad than flies kept on Y + S. Results show that complete or long periods of protein deprivation and starvation after sucrose feeding increased feeding responses to GF-120 and Nulure. The general lack of differences in durations of non-feeding events on leaves with sucrose or GF-120 or Nulure in protein-deprived and -fed flies suggests that most protein-deprived flies found baits through chance encounters following normal movement.     

Effects of the juvenile hormone analogue methoprene and dietary protein on male melon fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) mating success

The effect of access to dietary protein (P) and the topical application of a juvenile hormone analogue (methoprene (M)) on mating behaviour of male melon fly Bactrocera cucurbitae was assessed in the laboratory and in field cages. Age, dietary protein and methoprene application increased the mating success and influenced the mating behaviour. Treatment with methoprene (M+) to protein-deprived (P−) males had only a modest effect on the acceleration of sexual maturity, but application of methoprene (M+) to protein-fed (P+) males greatly accelerated sexual maturity. Protein diet (P+) increased mating success of males in comparison to protein-deprived (P−) males. Protein and methoprene have a synergistic effect on mating behaviour, since M + P+ treated males exhibit reduced mating latency and achieved higher mating in younger ages than methoprene and/or protein-deprived males. Copulation duration was correlated with nutritional status and M + P+ males copulated longer at the age of advanced sexual maturity than M − P+ males. Our results suggest that in this species with a lek mating system, females discriminate between the males based on their sexual signals, which were influenced by protein in the adult diet, methoprene application and age. The results are discussed in the light of mating competitiveness of precocious treated young males and their relevance to Sterile Insect Technique application against this pest species.     

Tissue glycogen and lactate levels in starved and in protein-fed domestic fowl chicks (Gallus domesticus)

The levels of glycogen, protein and lactate in the tissues of 3- and 5-day-old domestic fowl chicks either starved or fed a protein diet (hard-boiled egg white) have been studied. The patterns of change in the parameters studied were much similar in both experimental groups compared to fed controls. Tissue and circulating levels of lactate were very low in protein-fed chicks, they are lowest in the starved ones. Plasma glucose levels were diminished in starved and protein-fed groups vs. controls, as were their tissue glycogen levels, the latter being lowest in starved chicks. The availability of dietary amino acids could not prevent the effects of the lack of dietary carbohydrate observed in starved chicks, as the weight of liver, circulating glucose and lactate levels were significantly lowered in these animals compared with controls.     

Female control of sperm ejection and retention in the cornsilk fly Euxesta eluta (Diptera: Ulidiidae)

Promiscuous mating systems provide the opportunity for females to bias fertilization toward particular males. However, distinguishing between male sperm competition and active female sperm choice is difficult for species with internal fertilization. Nevertheless, species that store and use sperm of different males in different storing structures and species where females are able to expel all or part of the ejaculates after copulation may be able to bias fertilization. We report a series of experiments aimed at providing evidence of female sperm choice in Euxesta eluta (Hendel), a species of ulidiid fly that expels and consumes ejaculates after copulation. We found no evidence of greater reproductive success for females mated singly, multiply with the same male, or mated multiply with different males. Female E. eluta possesses two spherical spermathecae and a bursa copulatrix for sperm storage, with a ventral receptacle. There was no significant difference in storing more sperm in spermathecae 24 h after copulation than immediately after copulation. Females mated with protein-fed males had greater reproductive success than similar females mated to protein-deprived males. Protein-fed females prevented to consume the ejaculate, retained more sperm when mated to protein-fed males than when mated to protein-deprived males. Our results suggest that female E. eluta can exert control of sperm retention of higher quality males through ejaculate ejection.     

Condition-Dependent Effects of Mating on Longevity and Fecundity of Female Medflies: The Interplay between Nutrition and Age of Mating

Background

In various species mating exerts direct and indirect effects on female demographic traits ranging from life span shortening to behavioural shifts. A wealth of data regarding effects of nutrition on longevity and reproduction output also exists. Nonetheless, little is known regarding the interaction between the age of mating and nutrition on female fitness.

Methodology

We studied, the effects of protein deprivation and age of mating on female fitness traits, using a wild population of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly). We tested the hypotheses that (a) protein availability increases female lifespan and fecundity, (b) female longevity and egg production are independent of mating and the age of mating, and (c) female mating behaviour is independent of their age and nutritional status. Thus, we recorded the mating success and the copulation characteristics, as well as the egg production and survival of females mated at young or at old age and fed a full or a protein-deprived diet.

Results

Mating boosts egg production and reduces longevity of protein-fed females. On the contrary, mating increases the longevity of protein-deprived females. Mortality responses (negative or positive) to mating are expressed after a long lag phase. Old females are more receptive and less selective than young females regardless of the food regime.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that condition (nutritional status and age) defines the positive or negative output of mating in female medflies. These results contribute towards understanding the effects of mating, aging, resource allocation and their interactions on survival and female reproduction.     

Potential for pre-release diet supplements to increase the sexual performance and longevity of male Queensland fruit flies

1 Recent studies have shown that continuous access to a protein source (yeast hydrolysate) can greatly enhance the sexual performance of male Queensland fruit flies ( Bactrocera tryoni ; 'Q-flies'). However, in Sterile Insect Technique programmes used to eradicate or suppress wild populations, mass-reared Q-flies are typically fed only sucrose and water for up to 2 days before release.
2 We investigated whether adding a protein source to the diet of male Q-flies for a 24- or 48-h window after emergence and then removing it is sufficient to enhance mating probability, latency to mate, copula duration, probability of sperm storage, number of sperm stored, female remating tendency and longevity of male Q-flies.
3 Protein-fed males were more likely to mate than males fed only sucrose, especially when young. Protein-fed males also had shorter mating latencies and longer copulations than protein-deprived males.
4 Females mated by protein-fed males were more likely to store sperm, stored more sperm and were less likely to remate than were females mated by protein-deprived males. Females were also less likely to remate if their first mate had been large.
5 Overall, providing male Q-flies access to a protein source for a 24- or 48-h window early on in their adult life was sufficient to greatly enhance all assessed measures of performance. Although 24-h access was sufficient for a notable enhancement, further benefits were evident in males provided 48-h access.
6 The results are discussed in terms of the practical implications for Sterile Insect Technique programs used to eradicate or suppress wild Q-fly populations.     

Effects of diet, ginger root oil, and elevation on the mating competitiveness of male Mediterranean fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from a mass-reared, genetic sexing strain in Guatemala

The release of sterile males is a key component of an areawide program to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), from Guatemala and southern Mexico. The objective of our study was to assess the effects of adult diet, exposure to ginger root oil (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), and elevation on the mating competitiveness of the sterile males used in an areawide program. Sterile males were maintained on a protein-sugar (protein-fed) or a sugar-only (protein-deprived) diet and were exposed (for 4 h 1 d before testing) or not exposed to ginger root oil. In field-cage trials conducted at a high (1,500 m) and low (700 m) site, we monitored the influence of these treatments on the mating success of sterile males in competition with wild males (reared exclusively on the protein-sugar diet and without ginger root oil exposure) for wild females. Elevation and ginger root oil exposure had significant effects, with sterile males having higher mating success at the low-elevation site and ginger root oil-exposed males having greater success than ginger root oil-deprived males at both sites. Diet did not have a significant overall effect, and its influence varied with elevation (dietary protein seemed to provide an advantage at the high-elevation site but not at the low-elevation site). Possible implications of these findings for eradication programs against the Mediterranean fruit fly are discussed.     

Colour discrimination by the sheep blowfly Lucilia sericata

Abstract. In laboratory trials designed to examine the alighting response of the blowfly Lucilia sericata Meigen to colour, yellow sticky cloth targets caught the largest number of both males and females, followed by pale blue, black, green, dark blue and red. The number caught by any colour showed a strong positive relationship with the percentage of its spectral reflectivity in the 450–580 nm wavelength band. In field trials, targets baited with the synthetic attractant 'swormlure' caught significantly fewer L.sericata than targets baited with liver and sodium sulphide, suggesting that the former bait is a relatively poor attractant for this species, at the release rates used in the present study. However, there was no effect of target colour on catch, neither was there any interaction between colour and odour bait type. The results, from both the laboratory and field trials, suggest that the strength of responses by Lsericata to visual cues are weak relative to responses to odour. Responses to hue are readily overridden by a range of factors such as brightness and contrast with the background and are therefore likely to be difficult to detect or manipulate reliably in trapping systems in the field.     

Effect of physiological and experiential state ofBactrocera tryoni flies on intra-tree foraging behavior for food (bacteria) and host fruit

Summary Using caged host trees on which we manipulated food and oviposition sites, we investigated the foraging behavior of individually-releasedBactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae) females in relation to state of fly hunger for protein, presence or absence of bacteria as a source of protein, degree of prior experience with host fruit, and quality of host fruit for oviposition. One aim was to evaluate whether it is immature or matureB. tryoni females that are responsible for initially inoculating host fruit surfaces with fruit-fly-type bacteria, the odor of which is known to attractB. tryoni females. We found that 3-week-old immature females provided with sucrose but deprived of protein from eclosion had a much greater propensity than 3-week-old protein-fed mature females to visit vials containing fruit-fly-type bacteria, irrespective of whether vials were associated with adjacent host fruit or not. In the absence of associated bacteria in vials, immature females had a much lower propensity than mature females to visit host fruit. In the presence of bacteria in vials, however, propensity of immature and mature females to visit fruit was about equal. Mature (but not immature) females were more inclined to visit fruit that ranked higher for oviposition (nectarines) than fruit that ranked lower (sweet oranges). Mature females that attempted oviposition during a single 3-min exposure period to a nectarine prior to release were much more likely to find a nectarine than were mature females naive to fruit or immature females with or without prior contact with fruit. Exposure to a nectarine before release did not affect the propensity of either mature or immature females to alight on an odorless visual model of a nectarine, however. As judged by numbers of leaves visited, protein-deprived immature females were more active than protein-fed mature females, irrespective of the sorts of resources on a tree. Together, our findings lead us to conclude that (1) the firstB. tryoni females to arrive on the fruit of a host tree and therefore inoculate the fruit with fruit-fly-type bacteria are unlikely to be sexually immature, but to be mature as a result of having earlier acquired protein elsewhere, (2) the odor of colonies of fruit-fly-type bacteria when associated with host fruit will attract protein-hungry but not protein-fed females, and (3) the odor of the fruit itself will attract mature females (especially experienced ones) but not immature females. These findings illustrate the value of considering jointly the state of a resource patch together with the physiological and experiential state of the individual when investigating the foraging behavior of an insect.     

Activity, hexokinase isoenzyme spectrum and various factors of their regulation in liver and skeletal muscles of young piglets]

Hexokinase in the liver of 1- and 5-day-old piglets is presented by four isoforms and in the skeletal muscles--by two ones. The enzyme activity in the liver and skeletal muscles of 5-day-old piglets is much higher than in 1-day-old ones. The increased hexokinase activity in the tissues of piglets during the first days of life appears to be due to the changes in their isoenzyme spectrum. The hexokinase activity and isoenzyme spectrum in the investigated tissue were affected by insulin, cortisol and 24 hours long starvation. These changes depended upon the age of the animals and differed in various organs and tissues: in 1-day-old piglets they were more pronounced in the skeletal muscles, while in 5-days-old animals--in the liver.     

Interaction of odour and flow perception and the effects of parathion in the locomotor orientation of the goldfish Carassius auratus L.

The effects were studied of a 24 h exposure to a subacute concentration of parathion (0.33 p.p.m., which is approximately equivalent to 0.5 of the 48-h LC₅₀) on the locomotor orientation of mature goldfish Carassius auratus L., 26–30 cm long, in response to a food odour and a water flow differential, singly and in combination, in a free choice situation. Prior to exposure, food odour alone was significantly attractive but the combination 'food odour with increased water flow', as compared with the control situation, was avoided. Factorial analysis demonstrated interaction between odour and increased flow. After exposure to parathion the food odour ceased to be attractive and was significantly avoided. This avoidance was not present in the 'food odour-increased flow' combination. The parathion exposure did not affect the response to the flow conditions per se but reversed the interaction between food odour and increased flow. In addition, the exposure to the pesticide itself, in a second order interaction, interacted with 'food odour-flow' response. Hence, the short term exposure to the subacute organophosphate concentration affected not only the perception of food odour and flow individually, but also the interaction between these common environmental stimuli.     

Long-lasting, sex- and age-specific effects of social stressors on corticosterone responses to restraint and on locomotor responses to psychostimulants in rats

Many neural systems are undergoing marked development over adolescence, which may heighten an animal's vulnerability to stressors. One consequence may be altered sensitivity to drugs of abuse. We previously reported that social stressors in adolescence increased behavioral sensitization to nicotine in adulthood in female, but not male, rats. Here we examined whether social stressors in adolescence alter the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by examining corticosterone release in response to restraint in adulthood. To further assess effects of social stressors on behavioral sensitivity to psychostimulants, we examined locomotor activity in response to nicotine and to amphetamine. In a second set of experiments, we investigated whether the same procedure of social stressors administered in adulthood produces effects similar to that observed when administered in adolescence. Rats underwent daily 1 h isolation followed by pairing with a new cage mate on either postnatal days 33-48 (pubertal stress: PS) or days 65-80 (adult stress: AS). Three weeks later rats tested for either: (a) corticosterone levels were measured in response to restraint, or (b) locomotor sensitization to nicotine (0.25 mg/kg; 5 days) followed by an amphetamine challenge (0.5 mg/kg) 24 h later. Effects of social stressors were evident only in females. PS females had increased locomotor activity to amphetamine compared to controls, and AS females had increased corticosterone release compared to controls. No effect of the social stressors was found in males at either age except for reduced weight gain during the stress procedure. Thus, females are more susceptible to the enduring effects of these moderate social stressors than are males. However, in terms of behavioral sensitivity to drugs of abuse, females may be more susceptible to stressors during adolescence than adulthood, although the reverse appears to be true for HPA function.     

Impairment of macrophage activation and granuloma formation by protein deprivation in mice.

Protein-calorie malnutrition predisposes to infection by intracellular pathogens, but the basis for this predisposition is unclear. We studied the effect of protein deprivation on mouse peritoneal macrophage function and on granuloma formation during infection by bacille Calmette-Gue?in (BCG). Injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation elicited fewer peritoneal cells from mice fed a 2.5% protein diet than from mice fed an isocaloric chow in which protein calories constituted 24% of the total. LPS-elicited macrophages from protein-deprived mice demonstrated a reduction in spreading, total cell protein, cell lactate dehydrogenase, and release of superoxide anion (O2-) in response to stimulation. Priming in vitro by interferon (IFN)-gamma for enhanced release of O2- was also significantly impaired in protein-deprived mice. This defect was reversible by repletion with 24% protein diet for 10 days. Impairment of macrophage function in protein-deprived mice was further evidenced by an impaired capacity to express Ia antigen in response to IFN-gamma and by reduced production of IL-1 activity in response to LPS. Infection by BCG in protein-deprived mice was characterized by impaired granuloma development in liver, lungs, and spleen. Thus, in this model, protein deprivation significantly impaired macrophage activation, as assessed by morphologic, metabolic, and functional criteria. This impairment might compromise immune effector mechanisms dependent on macrophage activation, including rejection of intracellular pathogens.     

Volume of Protein meals taken by females of the blowfly, Lucilia cuprina: ovarian development-related and direct effects of protein ingestion

Abstract. The effect of the stage of ovarian development on the volumes of meals of the protein-rich material, liver exudate, taken by females of the blowfly, L. cuprina (Wiedemann), was examined using an experimental regime which was designed to isolate the effects of ovarian development from any other more direct effects of protein feeding or deprivation. It was found that volumes of meals taken by females with developing ovaries were little, if any, smaller than the volumes taken by protein-deprived females until quite late in vitellogenesis, at which stage meal size fell abruptly to that of meals taken by gravid females. A direct effect of protein-feeding was also demonstrated, with females that had consumed exudate during the previous few hours taking substantially smaller meals than those that had not done so. This effect was, however, shown to be non-specific in that the recent consumption of an equal volume of concentrated sucrose solution caused a similar reduction in the volume of exudate taken.     

Neuroadaptations of total levels of adenylate cyclase, protein kinase A, tyrosine hydroxylase, cdk5 and neurofilaments in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area do not correlate with expression of sensitized or tolerant locomotor responses to cocaine

Neuroadaptations induced by high-dose cocaine treatment have been hypothesized to persist after the cessation of drug treatment and mediate the expression of sensitization and tolerance to cocaine. We looked for evidence of these neuroadaptations in rats receiving more modest behaviorally effective cocaine treatments. Rats were exposed to either a sensitizing regimen of seven once-daily injections of 15 mg/kg cocaine or a tolerance-producing regimen involving a continuous infusion of the same daily dose. We assessed enzyme activity levels of protein kinase A and adenylate cyclase, and protein levels of tyrosine hydroxylase, cdk5 and neurofilaments in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area. Only protein kinase A activity levels were altered by cocaine treatment, but this alteration persisted for only 7 days, whereas a sensitized locomotor response was still evident at 21 days. Although behavioral tolerance to cocaine was seen the day after the termination of treatment, none of the molecular measures was altered on this or any other day. Thus, although increased protein kinase A activity can temporarily modulate sensitized responses to cocaine, alterations in total levels of the molecules assessed in our study do not correlate with the expression of sensitized or tolerant locomotor responses to cocaine.