Haemocytes of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella, during larval development and diapause

Seven types of haemocytes were observed in the last larval instar of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders): prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular haemocytes, spherule cells, adipohaemocytes, oenocytoids, and podocytes. Total and differential haemocyte counts made from diapausing and non-diapausing larvae showed that during diapause there was a significant reduction in the numbers of all haemocyte types. Upon termination of diapause, the haemocyte level increased. There were no significant differences in the level of haemocytes in the pharate pupae that developed from diapause or non-diapause type larvae, except in the case of adipohaemocytes, which were three times as prevalent in pharate pupae from diapausing larvae. Functional aspects of various types of haemocytes are discussed, and it is suggested that the lower haemocyte level observed during diapause is the result of lower metabolic activity.     

A novel cytochrome P450 gene (CYP4G25) of the silkmoth Antheraea yamamai: cloning and expression pattern in pharate first instar larvae in relation to diapause

A new cytochrome P450 gene, CYP4G25, was identified as a differentially expressed gene between the diapausing and post-diapausing pharate first instar larvae of the wild silkmoth Antheraea yamamai, using subtractive cDNA hybridization. The cDNA sequence of CYP4G25 has an open reading frame of 1674 nucleotides encoding 557 amino acid residues. Sequence analysis of the putative CYP4G25 protein disclosed the motif FXXGXRXCXG that is essential for heme binding in P450 cytochromes. Hybridization in situ demonstrated predominant expression of CYP4G25 in the integument of pharate first instar larvae. Northern blotting analysis showed an intensive signal after the initiation of diapause and no or weak expression throughout the periods of pre-diapause and post-diapause, including larval development. These results indicate that CYP4G25 is strongly associated with diapause in pharate first instar larvae.     

Activity of gut alkaline phosphatase,proteases and esterase in relation to diapause of pharate first instar larvae of the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar

Two distinctly different patterns of gut enzyme activity were noted in relation to diapause in pharate first instar larvae of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, aminopeptidase and esterase activities were low at the initiation of diapause and through the period of chilling needed to terminate diapause. At the completion of a 150 day chilling period, activity of each of these enzymes quickly increased when the pharate larvae were transferred to 25°C. By contrast, activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased rapidly at the onset of diapause, remained elevated throughout diapause, increased again during postdiapause, and then dropped at the time of hatching. In addition, zymogram patterns of ALP activity differed qualitatively in relation to diapause: several bands were detectable during the pre- and postdiapause periods, but only one band, a band of high mobility, was visible during diapause. The ALP isozyme present in diapausing pharate larvae had a pH optimum of 10.6. Diapause in the gypsy moth can be averted by application of an imidazole derivative, KK-42, and pharate larvae treated with KK-42 showed elevated protease and esterase activity, low ALP activity, and expressed ALP isozymes with low mobility. Thus the overall patterns of gut enzyme activity and the ALP zymogram in KK-42 treated individuals were similar to those observed in untreated individuals at the termination of diapause. Our results suggest a unique pattern of enzyme activity in the gut that is regulated by the diapause program. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 37:197–205, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The origin of free glycerol accumulated in diapause eggs of Bombyx mori

ABSTRACT. The origin of free glycerol in diapausing eggs of Bombyx mori was examined using ¹⁴C-glycerol as a tracer. When ¹⁴C-glycerol was injected into 5-day-old female pharate adults to label the egg lipids, radioactivity was recovered in glycogen as well as in total lipids in newly laid eggs, but the specific radioactivity in lipid glycerol was 2.5 times higher than that in glycogen. When eggs entered diapause, radioactivity in glycogen decreased rapidly and a concomitant accumulation of sorbitol occurred, implying the conversion of glycogen into sorbitol at the initiation of diapause. Radioactivity in total lipids decreased slowly but significantly, and in free glycerol increased steadily during the diapause period. The sum of recovered radioactivity in these components remained almost constant throughout diapause. The specific radioactivity (cpm/C-atom) of free glycerol was clearly lower than that of lipid glycerol but higher than that of glycogen or sorbitol. It was calculated that about 30% of free glycerol was derived from lipid glycerol in the diapausing eggs.     

大斑芫菁滞育幼虫在滞育不同阶段体内糖类和醇类含量的变化

在以卵滞育的昆虫中昆虫滞育时的生理代谢特点已经得到了大量研究。本文对以末龄幼虫（5龄）滞育的大斑芫菁Mylabris phalerate（Pallas）在不同滞育阶段体内糖类和醇类代谢的特征进行了研究。结果表明： 滞育个体血淋巴中的海藻糖含量高于非滞育个体,且随滞育时间的加大逐渐升高,滞育5个月时达到最大值,为5.61 μmol/mL。糖原的含量随滞育的进程逐渐减少,滞育初期（0.5个月）为0.72 mg/mL,到滞育末期（5个月）时仅为0.1 mg/mL。滞育个体脂肪体中的海藻糖含量都高于非滞育个体,滞育1个月时为非滞育个体的3倍,至滞育末期时达非滞育个体的5倍,为2.5 μmol/g脂肪体。糖原含量总体变化趋势是随滞育时间的加大逐渐减少,滞育早期和中期都高于非滞育个体。在滞育过程中血淋巴积累的小分子多元醇主要为甘油,其次是山梨醇;而在脂肪体中主要为甘油,其次是甘露醇,少量积累山梨醇：表明大斑芫菁滞育幼虫主要积累的是海藻糖和一些小分子多元醇。滞育幼虫在准备滞育时储备了大量糖原,这些糖原可能为滞育期间海藻糖、山梨醇和甘油的代谢提供了原料。     

Carotenoids of the pupae of the Large White butterfly (Pieris brassicae) and the Small White butterfly (Pieris rapae)

The light cues received by the larvae of Pieris brassicae which determine diapause can also influence the carotenoid distribution (and hence the colour) in the epidermis and cuticle of the diapausing pupae. Irrespective of background or light cues received during the "sensitive period" of the pharate pupa, these diapausing pupae are coloured green. They then contain more than double the concentration of carotenoids in their epidermis than the non-diapausing pupae. This green colour can be somewhat modified by switching the full grown larvae to long day regimes immediately after feeding ceases.
The Large White and Small White butterfly each has a characteristic carotenoid storage pattern, which can be demonstrated by feeding the larvae on portions of the same cabbage leaves. The braconid parasite Apanteles glomeratus mirrors the carotenoids in its host.     

草地螟滞育幼虫的蛋白和核酸含量变化

为了阐明草地螟Loxostege sticticalis 滞育的分子调控基础, 本研究应用Trizol法、 DNA和蛋白质定量试剂盒、 SDS-PAGE电泳技术分别对进入滞育1, 2, 3和4个月、 解除滞育以及非滞育草地螟老熟幼虫中的核酸含量、 总蛋白含量和组分的变化进行了测定。结果表明： 滞育不同月份幼虫的总RNA含量显著低于非滞育幼虫的总RNA含量（P＜0.05）; 解除滞育幼虫的总RNA含量显著高于滞育2, 3和4个月的幼虫, 但仍显著低于非滞育的对照组。滞育不同月份、 非滞育以及解除滞育幼虫的总DNA含量没有显著差异（P＞0.05）。RNA/DNA比值随滞育的开始而显著下降, 随着滞育的结束而显著上升。滞育不同月份的幼虫总蛋白含量显著高于非滞育幼虫的总蛋白含量（P<0.05）, 但解除滞育与非滞育幼虫的总蛋白含量无显著差异。利用SDS-PAGE电泳分析发现滞育幼虫体内存在滞育关联蛋白, 蛋白条带在24 kDa左右, 但非滞育和已经解除滞育的幼虫则没有该蛋白条带。这些结果表明, 总RNA含量的降低、 RNA/DNA比值下降、 总蛋白含量的升高, 以及24 kDa蛋白的存在是草地螟幼虫滞育的主要生理特征。     

Peroxisome proliferator-induced long chain acyl-CoA thioesterases comprise a highly conserved novel multi-gene family involved in lipid metabolism

Long chain acyl-CoA esters are important intermediates in degradation and synthesis of fatty acids, as well as having important functions in regulation of intermediary metabolism and gene expression. Although the physiological functions for most acyl-CoA thioesterases have not yet been elucidated, previous data suggest that these enzymes may be involved in lipid metabolism by modulation of cellular concentrations of acyl-CoAs and fatty acids. In line with this, we have cloned four highly homologous acyl-CoA thioesterase genes from mouse, showing multiple compartmental localizations. The nomenclature for these genes has tentatively been assigned as CTE-I (cytosolic), MTE-I (mitochondrial), and PTE-Ia and Ib (peroxisomal), based on the identification of putative targeting signals. Although the various isoenzymes show between 67% and 94% identity at amino acid level, each individual enzyme shows a specific tissue expression. Our data suggest that all four genes are located within a very narrow cluster on chromosome 12 in mouse, similar to a sequence cluster on human chromosome 14, which identified four genes homologous to the mouse thioesterase genes. Four related genes were also identified in Caenorhabditis elegans, all containing putative PTS1 targeting signals, suggesting that the ancestral type I thioesterase gene(s) is/are of peroxisomal origin. All four thioesterases are differentially expressed in tissues examined, but all are inducible at mRNA level by treatment with the peroxisome proliferator clofibrate, or during the physiological condition of fasting, both of which conditions cause a perturbation in overall lipid homeostasis. These results strongly support the existence of a novel multi-gene family cluster of mouse acyl-CoA thioesterases, each with a distinct function in lipid metabolism.     

冷驯化对松墨天牛幼虫脂代谢的影响

【目的】在低温环境下,昆虫会启用体内的生理调控机制稳定自身代谢,脂肪代谢在昆虫抵御低温的过程中发挥重要作用。本研究旨在探究松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus幼虫脂肪代谢在低温条件下的变化及其对耐寒性的影响。【方法】将室内25℃下饲养的松墨天牛4龄幼虫分别置于25℃(对照)和4℃(冷驯化)恒温培养箱,7 d后解剖幼虫,收集其脂肪体,观察冷驯化后脂滴变化,测定脂肪体内脂肪含量;利用气相色谱 质谱分析,检测脂肪体内游离脂肪酸组分及含量;并用RT-qPCR方法检测脂肪体内脂肪酸β-氧化关键酶(CPT1, 4KCT, VLCAD, ECH和3HCD-1)基因的相对表达量。【结果】冷驯化(4℃)7 d后松墨天牛4龄幼虫脂肪体中脂滴较对照变小,密度降低,脂肪含量下降;但其脂肪酸组成种类未变,对照组和冷驯化组主要脂肪酸均为C16∶0, C16∶1, C18∶0, C18∶1和C18∶2,其中C18∶2的相对含量在两组中均最高,由未驯化时的31.83%±8.82%降至冷驯化后的25.16%±2.88%。冷驯化后,松墨天牛4龄幼虫脂肪体中C16∶0,C16∶1和C18∶2脂肪酸含量减少,C18∶0与C18∶1的相对含量上升。在5种主要脂肪酸中,冷驯化后各脂肪酸的相对丰度较对照均有所减少,其中C16∶0, C16∶1及C18∶2的相对丰度则显著下降。但冷驯化后松墨天牛4龄幼虫脂肪体中游离脂肪酸的双键指数较对照上升3.88%。且冷驯化组脂肪体中VLCAD基因表达量较对照组显著上调。【结论】低温环境中松墨天牛幼虫通过消耗脂肪维持基本代谢,幼虫脂肪体的脂肪酸分解代谢水平提高;不饱和脂肪酸在松墨天牛的耐寒性中起关键作用。脂代谢调控为松墨天牛应对低温的重要生存策略。     

Seasonal diapause development and diapause termination in the European skipper, Thymelicus lineola (Ochs.)

Eggs of the European skipper, Thymelicus lineola, containing pharate first-instar larvae were brought into the laboratory at the beginning of each month from September to May and maintained at 20°C, 14L:10D. No emergence was observed within 40 days of collection before December. From that time on, while total emergence was similar, the duration of the emergence period decreased over the season from > 120 days in December to < 14 days in May. There was however no marked change in the seasonal supercooling point values of diapausing larvae.The rate of emergence from eggs collected in March was influenced by photoperiod, being slower under short-day conditions. However for any given photoperiod tested, the rate of emergence increased with an increase in temperature. The possible adaptive significance of a two-phase diapause, where diapause termination is photoperiodically controlled in species that overwinter as an egg or as a pharate first-instar larva within the egg chorion in exposed habitats, is discussed.     

Difference in nutrient accumulation patterns between diapause-destined and non-diapause-destined larvae of Hyphantria cunea

Nutrient accumulation is crucial in insect diapause preparation because insufficient nutrient accumulation can shorten the diapause period, interfere with diapause development completion, and decrease the probability of surviving the overwintering period. The amounts of lipids and carbohydrates stored in diapausing pupae of Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Arctiinae) are greater than those in the non-diapausing pupae. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that diapause-destined (DD) and non-diapause-destined (NDD) larvae of H. cunea have different nutrient accumulation patterns in penultimate and final instars. The body mass, as well as lipid, carbohydrate, and soluble protein contents, and the efficiency of converting digested food and ingested food into body matter were greater in the DD penultimate and final instars than in the NDD penultimate and final instars. Larger amounts of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins were absorbed by DD penultimate and final instars and the final instar development period in the DD larvae was prolonged relative to NDD larvae. The activities of fatty acid synthase and glycogen synthase of DD penultimate and final instars were significantly higher than those of NDD larvae. These results suggest that the changes in nutrient accumulation patterns between DD and NDD larvae occur in penultimate and final instars, and that the DD larvae increase their nutrient accumulation during diapause preparation by the combined effect of extending their final-instar development period and improving their digestive efficiency; they increase their lipid and carbohydrate stores by increasing the activities of fatty acid synthase and glycogen synthase in the fat body.     

二化螟滞育幼虫的蛋白和核酸含量以及保护酶活性的变化

为了阐明二化螟Chilo supprressalis滞育幼虫的分子特征及滞育期间保护酶活性的变化规律, 本研究应用Trizol法、 总量DNA提取法和蛋白定量试剂盒, 测定了在长光周期16L∶8D和25℃下发育的非滞育老熟幼虫、 在短光周期12L∶12D 和25℃下诱导滞育51 d的幼虫（称为滞育0个月）、 滞育1, 2和3个月幼虫的核酸含量和总蛋白含量; 同时应用试剂盒测定了老熟幼虫、 滞育0, 1和2个月的二化螟幼虫5种保护酶（POD, CAT, SOD, LDH和ATP酶）的活性。结果表明： 滞育幼虫的总RNA含量显著低于非滞育的老熟幼虫（P<0.05）, 而滞育1, 2和3个月的幼虫之间没有显著差异（P≥0.05）。老熟幼虫的总DNA含量显著高于滞育幼虫（P<0.05）。老熟幼虫的RNA/DNA比值较低, 滞育幼虫的RNA/DNA比值较高, RNA/DNA比值随着滞育时间的推移呈现出先上升后下降的趋势。滞育期大于1个月的幼虫中蛋白含量均显著高于非滞育的老熟幼虫（P<0.05）, 而滞育1, 2和3个月的幼虫之间没有显著差异（P≥0.05）。二化螟幼虫体内5种保护酶活性随发育阶段不同而存在差异。滞育幼虫中POD, CAT和SOD的活性随滞育时间延长而逐渐增强, 滞育2个月幼虫中的活性最高, 而非滞育老熟幼虫中的活性最低; LDH和ATP酶的活性则相反, 非滞育老熟幼虫中的活性最高, 滞育2个月幼虫中的活性最低。这些结果说明, 总RNA和DNA含量降低、 RNA/DNA比值先升后降、 总蛋白含量升高以及保护酶活性的变化是二化螟幼虫滞育过程中的主要生理特征。     

Diapause detection and monitoring in the Mediterranean corn stalk borer

Abstract. Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebvre diapauses as mature larvae. Once diapause is induced, larvae continue to grow and moult with no apparent changes, so distinction between non-diapausing and diapausing larvae is difficult. In the present work two physiological markers of diapause induction are obtained and their efficacy in detecting diapause onset and in monitoring diapause development in field populations is evaluated. The first marker is based on the differential capacity of two photoregimes, LD 0:24 h and LD 16:8 h, to reverse diapause induction. When larvae of the first and second stadia were subjected to the diapause-inducing LD 12:12 h light cycle and then transferred to LD 0:24 h, larvae pupated after a development duration significantly higher than that of the larvae transferred to LD 168 h. This criterion was used to monitor diapause development in overwintering larvae until field-collected larvae submitted to LD 0:24 h pupated synchronously with those submitted to LD 16:8 h. This occurred between late January and early March. The second marker refers to development of imaginal wing discs. A relative index of the tracheal mass area divided by the total disc area diminishes steadily during development in non-diapausing sixth-instar larvae until it becomes zero just before pupation, whereas it remains constant in diapausing larvae. Though wing disc development was blocked in diapausing sixth-instar larvae, the disc continued to grow and, consequently, the total area of the disc was not a suitable marker of diapause induction. When the constancy of the relative area index was used to monitor diapause development and termination in overwintering larvae, the results agreed with those obtained using the first criterion and with previous field observations.     

Anti-obesity effect of dietary diacylglycerol in C57BL/6J mice: dietary diacylglycerol stimulates intestinal lipid metabolism

We examined the long-term effects of dietary diacylglycerol (DG) and triacylglycerol (TG) with similar fatty acid compositions on the development of obesity in C57BL/6J mice. We also analyzed the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism at an early stage of obesity development in these mice. Compared with mice fed the high-TG diet, mice fed the high-DG diet accumulated significantly less body fat during the 8-month study period. Within the first 10 days, dietary DG stimulated beta-oxidation and lipid metabolism-related gene expression, including acyl-CoA oxidase, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and uncoupling protein-2 in the small intestine but not in the liver, skeletal muscle, or brown adipose tissue, suggesting the predominant contribution of intestinal lipid metabolism to the effects of DG. Furthermore, analysis of digestion products of [(14)C]DG and those of [(14)C]TG revealed that the radioactivity levels detected in fatty acid, 1-monoacylglycerol, and 1,3-DG in intestinal mucosa were significantly higher after intrajejunal injection of DG rather than TG. Thus, dietary DG reduces body weight gain that accompanies the stimulation of intestinal lipid metabolism, and these effects may be related to the characteristic metabolism of DG in the small intestine.     

Termination and induction of diapause in the gypsy moth larval parasitoid, Apanteles melanoscelus

Diapause in Apanteles melanoscelus can be terminated by exposure of the diapausing last instar larvae within their cocoons to 5°C for a period of 8 or more weeks. Photoperiod has no consistent influence upon diapause termination, but is of paramount importance for diapause induction. At less than 16 hr light per day virtually all larvae diapause, and at 18 hr and above very few larvae diapause. By exposing different larval stages to different photoperiods it was found that older larvae were most sensitive to the light-dark cycle. It was also noted that cocoons of diapausing larvae are larger than those of non-diapausing larvae.     

Juvenile hormone and diapause in the Mediterranean corn borer,Sesamia nonagrioides

Juvenile hormone content of Sesamia nonagrioides larvae reared under different environmental conditions that induce diapause was studied using a bioassay on newly-emerged Tribolium confusum pupae. Two analytical methods were also used to measure JHIII content. Extracts from larvae that developed under different conditions of photoperiod and temperature caused different effects in T. confusum pupae. This can be related to different diapause intensities. Extracts from diapausing larvae produced a higher juvenilizing effect than the expected, considering their JHIII titer calculated by the chromatographic analysis. This indicates that hormones other than JHIII must be present in extracts of diapausing larvae of S. nonagrioides. The analytical procedures confirm that diapausing larvae have a higher JHIII titer in the haemolymph than non-diapausing larvae. This shows that JH is involved in the maintenance of diapause in this species.     

The hormonal regulation of the larval diapause in the codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella (Lep. Tortricidae)

The hormonal control of the facultative diapause of the codling moth has been investigated. The diapause can be divided into 4 phases or periods: (1) diapause induction by short-day conditions (SD) in young larvae, (2) initiation of the diapause in the early last larval instar by a high titre of juvenile hormone, (3) onset and maintenance of diapause with inactivity of the neuroendocrine system, as evidenced by the results of neck-ligation experiments, (4)termination of diapause by the production of ecdysteroid.Diapause-induced larvae pupated after spinning the cocoon, if the state of induction was changed by injection with the anti-juvenile hormone precocene II at the beginning of the last larval instar and subsequent results of neck-ligation experiments, (4) termination of diapause by the production of ecdysteroid. treated with juvenile hormone during the first 1.5 days after the last larval moult and subsequently reared under SD. Under LD, continuous application of juvenile hormone during the last larval instar and after spinning did not prevent the insects from moulting to either a supernumerary larva, a pupa or a larval-pupal intermediate. Termination of diapause, i.e. pupation, was achieved by injecting diapausing larvae with 20-hydroxyecdysone. Although juvenile hormone was found to have a prothoractropic effect in diapausing larvae, no pupal moult could be induced by the application of the hormone. Contrary to the hormonal situation before pupation of nondiapausing larvae, no juvenile hormone could be detected before or during the pupation of larvae after diapause.