Brindley's gland exocrine products of Triatoma infestans

olatile exocrine products of the metathoracic Brindley's glands in Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) were obtained by dissection and by sampling the air passed over agitated live adults. Isobutyric acid was the main component in the glands, together with isobutyl, isoamyl and amyl alcohols, 2-phenylethanol and other carboxylic acids and esters. Isobutyric acid, isobutyl, isoamyl and amyl alcohols and esters were also found to be emitted into the air, apparently for defence. No volatile products were detected in the metasternal glands.     

Mating behavior of the hematophagous bug Triatoma infestans: role of Brindley's and metasternal glands

We investigated if Brindley's and metasternal glands are involved in the sexual behavior of Triatoma infestans. In laboratory assays, we analyzed the effect of selective occlusion of Brindley's and metasternal glands of the female (separately and together) on the behavior of males. Control assays without occlusion of glands were also performed. We quantitatively tested if such glands affect mating occurrence, the copulatory attempts of males, and the aggregation of males around a mating couple. The number of mating attempts by males did not differ between treatments, demonstrating that likelihood of males mating did not depend on which gland is occluded in the female. In the absence of any occlusion, T. infestans mated and males aggregated. The proportion of copulations and aggregation behavior of males did not differ between treatments when female's Brindley's glands were occluded. However, when metasternal glands were occluded, the proportion of mating couples decreased and males did not aggregate. We demonstrated that the metasternal glands of the female are involved in the sexual behavior of T. infestans, while Brindley's glands seem to have no effect on mating behavior. Copulation and aggregation behavior of males likely result from the eventual release of volatiles from the female's metasternal glands.     

Production of volatile organic compounds by the yeast fungus Dipodascus aggregatus

Summary The yeast fungus Dipodascus aggregatus was grown aerobically in a synthetic nutrient solution and the volatile compounds produced were concentrated. Identification of the volatiles was performed by combined gas chromatographymass spectrometry or by one of these methods. The compounds identified were 11 esters, 9 alcohols, 5 acids and 3 carbonyls.The time course production of volatile neutral compounds was followed. During the phase of no apparent growth only a few substances were formed (mostly alcohols). The rapid phase of growth was characterized by an intense synthesis of many compounds in relatively high concentrations and later a sudden decrease in the number and amounts of substances. A slow successive, decline in the number and amounts of volatile components was observed during the phase of no net growth.The volatiles emitted by the fungus were concentrated, when most of the compounds were most abundant and the relative amounts of the major volatile neutral compounds were determined. The main components were ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate and ethanol.     

Identification of volatile compounds from cheek glands of lesser bandicoot rats and assessment of behavioural response for identified compounds

Check gland secretions were collected from sexually mature male and female rats to identify the volatile compounds using gas chromatography linked mass spectroscopy with a modified head space technique. Twenty one volatile fractions including alkanes, aliphatic acids, esters and alcohols were found. Three compounds viz. 3-octen-1-ol (E) (I), cyclopentane undecanoic acid (II) and 2,4,6,8 tetramethyl-l-undecane (III) were present in very high concentrations in both male and female rats. In addition, the estrus female contained another compound, L-alanine, 1,1-dimethyl ethyl ester. On the basis of odour preference tests the compounds I, II and III were found to attract both male and female of the homotypic species. In contrast, the fourth compound present in the female attracts the opposite sex. The results suggest that the volatile fractions have unique function and the level of attraction varies from compound to compound.     

绿盲蝽雌虫的浸提物分析

采用浸泡法和气质联(GC-MS)用对绿盲蝽Lygus lucorum Meyer-dür雌虫不同部位的浸提物进行鉴定。结果表明:确定10种成分为绿盲蝽雌虫的浸提物中的主要组分,包括醇类,酸类和酯类。相对含量较高的依次有反-2-丁酸己烯酯、反-2-己烯醇、丁酸、顺-3-己烯醇、丁酸己酯。绿盲蝽雌虫在完成性召唤活动后,丁酸己酯、反-2-丁酸己烯酯和反-2-己烯醇的含量都明显减少,其中反-2-丁酸己烯酯从召唤前的7200ng减少到召唤后的250ng,表明在绿盲蝽雌虫性召唤活动中,有大量的反-2-丁酸己烯酯释放到体外。比较绿盲蝽雌虫的不同部位的浸提物的组分发现反-2-丁酸己烯酯主要存在于虫体胸部,占总量的89.75%,且反-2-己烯醇也主要存在于胸部。因此推测反-2-丁酸己烯酯可能是绿盲蝽雌虫的性信息素成分或组分之一,并主要由胸部内的腺体分泌。     

Long-acting contraceptive agents: Aliphatic and alicyclic carboxylic esters of levonorgestrel

Esters of levonorgestrel (13β-ethyl-17α-ethynyl-17β-hydroxygon-4-en -3-one) with a variety of aliphatic and alicyclic carboxylic acids have been prepared and characterised. In tests for the suppression of estrus in rats, esters with short-chain aliphatic acids and with cyclobutane-carboxylic acid were considerably more active than the standard, norethisterone enanthate (17α-ethynyl-17β-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one). Such esters show great promise for development as long-acting progestogens.     

The piercing-sucking herbivores Lygus hesperus and Nezara viridula induce volatile emissions in plants

Plant volatiles induced by herbivory are often used as olfactory cues by foraging herbivores and their natural enemies, and thus have potential for control of agricultural pests. Compared to chewing insects and mites, little is known about plant volatile production following herbivory by insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Here, we studied factors (insect life stage, gender, the role of salivary glands, and type of bioassay used for volatile induction) that influence the induction of plant volatiles by two agriculturally important hemipterans, Lygus hesperus and Nezara viridula. Feeding on intact cotton by virgin females of L. hesperus induced 2.6-fold greater volatile response compared to that induced by mated females, possibly due to increased feeding activity by virgin females. This plant volatile response was associated with elicitors present in the insect's salivary glands as well as to the degree of mechanical injury. Feeding injury by N. viridula females also increased volatile emissions in intact maize by approximately 2-fold compared to control plants. Maize seedlings injured by N. viridula emitted higher amounts of the monoterpene linalool, the sesquiterpenes (E)-beta-caryophyllene, alpha-trans-bergamotene, and (E,E)-beta-farnesene, and the homoterpene (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene, but not amounts of green leaf volatiles, compared to uninjured plants. Emissions from intact maize injured by adult males were lower than those emitted by adult females of the same age and did not differ from those emitted by uninjured plants. Similarly, feeding by virgin female N. viridula followed by excision led to 64% higher quantities of volatiles compared to untreated plants. Volatile emission in excised plants, however, was considerably greater than in intact plants, suggesting that careful consideration must be given to bioassay design in studies of herbivore-induced plant volatiles. Salivary gland extracts of N. viridula led to sesquiterpene emissions approximately 2.5-fold higher than for controls, although no significant differences were observed for green leaf volatiles, monoterpenes, and homoterpenes. These results indicate that L. hesperus and female N. viridula feeding induce volatile production in plants, and that volatile production is affected by gender and life stage of the bug. Although oviposition and mechanical injury by stylets may increase release of volatiles, elicitors from salivary glands of L. hesperus and N. viridula also seem to play a role in the emission of plant volatiles.     

Biodegradation of C5-C8 fatty acids and production of aroma volatiles by Myroides sp. ZB35 isolated from activated sludge

In the effluents of a biologically treated wastewater from a heavy oil-refining plant, C₅-C₈ fatty acids including pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, and 2-methylbutanoic acid are often detected. As these residual fatty acids can cause further air and water pollution, a new Myroides isolate ZB35 from activated sludge was explored to degrade these C₅-C₈ fatty acids in this study. It was found that the biodegradation process involved a lag phase that became prolonged with increasing acyl chain length when the fatty acids were individually fed to this strain. However, when fed as a mixture, the ones with longer acyl chains were found to become more quickly assimilated. The branched 2-methylbutanoic acid was always the last one to be depleted among the five fatty acids under both conditions. Metabolite analysis revealed one possible origin of short chain fatty acids in the biologically treated wastewater. Aroma volatiles including 2-methylbutyl isovalerate, isoamyl 2-methylbutanoate, isoamyl isovalerate, and 2-methylbutyl 2-methylbutanoate were subsequently identified from ZB35 extracts, linking the source of the fruity odor to these esters excreted by Myroides species. To our best knowledge, this is the first finding of these aroma esters in bacteria. From a biotechnological viewpoint, this study has revealed the potential of Myroides species as a promising source of aroma esters attractive for food and fragrance industries.     

Quantitative Method for the Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Short-Chain Monocarboxylic and Dicarboxylic Acids in Fermentation Media

A method for the preparation and gas chromatographic analysis of the butyl esters of volatile (C-1-C-7) and nonvolatile (lactic, succinic, and fumaric) acids in microbial fermentation media is presented. Butyl esters were prepared from the dry salts of the acids. The esters were separated by temperature programming on a column of Chromosorb W coated with Dexsil 300 GC liquid phase and analyzed with a flame ionization detector. Apparent recoveries with butanol-HCl or butanol-H2SO4 as butylating agents were 80 to 90% for most acids. Chromatographic profiles of the butyl esters demonstrated that both volatile and nonvolatile acids can be detected and separated in 24 min on a single column. Standard calibration curves (peak area versus concentration) of the butyl esters were linear in the range of 5 to 40 mumol of acid per ml. The advantages of using an internal standard (heptanoic acid) for quantitating fatty acids in a mixture are given. Chromatograms of butylated fermentation media in which rumen anaerobic bacteria were grown illustrated that this method is useful for determining short-chain volatile and nonvolatile acids of toxonomic significance.     

绿盲蝽雄虫体外挥发物研究

采用气质联用和嗅觉仪对分部解剖的绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum(Meyer-Dür)雄虫体外挥发物进行鉴定和生测。结果表明:绿盲蝽雄虫浸提物中的主要组分有13种,包括醇类、酸类和酯类。相对含量较高的依次有丁酸己酯、反-2-丁酸己烯酯和己醇。绿盲蝽雄虫从交配不活跃期进入活跃期,其体内的丁酸己酯、反-2-丁酸己烯酯和己醇的含量都明显变化,其中丁酸己酯和反-2-丁酸己烯酯明显增加,而己醇的含量减少,表明绿盲蝽雄虫在交配活跃期,可能有大量的丁酸己酯和反-2-丁酸己烯酯释放到体外。比较绿盲蝽雄虫的不同部位的浸提物的含量,发现丁酸己酯、反-2-丁酸己烯酯和己醇主要存在于虫体胸部。嗅觉反应测试中绿盲蝽雌虫对丁酸己酯和反-2-丁酸己烯酯有明显的趋性,同时含量很少的丁酸庚酯对雌虫有明显引诱作用。因此推测丁酸己酯、反-2-丁酸己烯酯和丁酸庚酯可能是绿盲蝽雄虫释放到体外的挥发性引诱成分,并主要由胸部内的腺体分泌。     

复叶槭挥发性物质的日释放节律及对光肩星天牛引起的行为反应

采用动态顶空采集吸附,热脱附及GC-MS分析的方法。对活性复叶槭（Acer negundoL.)释放的挥发性物质的组成及日释放节律进行了研究。鉴定出复叶槭挥发性物质中的32种化合物成份。包括醛类,醇类,酮类,酯类,脂肪酸类,萜烯类等。日释放节律研究表明,在7月份主要挥发性物质释放高峰集中于14时左右。而8月份则提前到10时左右。虽然在7月份和8月份采样时保持条件一致。但所释放的挥发性物质在种类及相对含量上有明显的不同,这很可能与复叶槭不同时期的生长状况及叶片的衰老有关。在田间采用诱捕器研究了光肩星天牛对上述挥发性物质的行为反应。田间试验结果表明,与其它挥发物相比,顺-3-己烯-1-醇在田间对光肩是天牛具有更强的引诱活性。由1-丁醇,1-戊醇和2-戊醇混合而成的混合物具有最强的引诱活性。     

Olfactory discrimination of anal sac secretions in the domestic cat and the chemical profiles of the volatile compounds

Scent emitted from anal sac secretions provides important signals for most Carnivora. Their secretions emit a variety of volatile compounds, some of which function as chemical signals with information about the scent owners. The domestic cat has a pair of anal sac glands to secrete a pungent liquid. Their anal sac secretions may give information about sex, reproductive state, and recognition of individuals. However, little is known about the volatile compounds emitted from anal sac secretions and their biological functions in cats. In this study, we examined the volatile chemical profiles of anal sac secretions in cats and their olfactory ability to discriminate intraspecific anal sac secretions. Analysis with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed that the major volatile compounds were short-chain free fatty acids, whose contents varied among individuals, as well as other carnivores. There was no sex difference in the volatile profiles. In temporal analyses of individual anal sac secretions performed 2 months apart, the profiles were highly conserved within individuals. Habituation–dishabituation tests showed that cats can distinguish individual differences in the odor of anal sac secretions. These results suggest that cats utilize short-chain free fatty acids emitted from anal sac secretions to obtain scent information for individual recognition rather than species or sex recognition.     

日本弓背蚁雄蚁生殖系统结构及其化学组成研究

【目的】雄蚁是蚂蚁巢群的重要成员,主要参与种群的繁殖。本文对日本弓背蚁Camponotus japonicus雄蚁的生殖系统结构及其化学组成进行了研究,拟为进一步开展雄蚁的生殖行为研究提供基础信息。【方法】利用光学和扫描电镜观察了雄蚁的生殖系统结构,并利用GC-MS方法分析了其化学组成。【结果】(1)雄蚁生殖系统包括1对附腺、1对输精管和射精管3部分,睾丸退化消失;附腺最为发达,肾形,乳白色;输精管简单细长,与附腺基部1/3处相连。扫描电镜下发现附腺表面平坦,包裹有发达的网状肌肉组织。(2)利用GC-MS方法检测到13种化学物质,主要以醛类、烃类和酸类为主,分别占29.31%、21.87%和20.56%,还有一些醇类(12.71%)和酯类(15.05%);含量最高的3种成分分别为十八烯醛(15.86%)、11-十六烯醛(13.45%)和9,12,15-十八碳三烯酸-2,3-二羟基丙酯(11.78%)。【结论】雄蚁生殖系统主要由附腺、输精管和射精管三部分组成,其中附腺最为发达,输精管细长,睾丸退化消失;生殖系统中含有多种化学成分,但其功能还有待于进一步的研究。     

Lipophilic compounds in femoral secretions of male collared lizards,Crotaphytus bicinctores (Iguania,Crotaphytidae)

In many lizards, chemical compounds from the femoral gland secretions are used in intraspecific communication, but most studies describing these chemicals are for lizard species included in the Scleroglossa clade, whereas lizards within the Iguanian clade have been much less studied, probably because these lizards were considered to rely more on visual cues. However, many iguanian lizards have abundant femoral secretions and are able of chemosensory conspecific recognition, which might be based on compounds secreted by femoral glands. By using GC–MS analyses, we found 58 lipophilic compounds in femoral gland secretions of male Great Basin collared lizard, Crotaphytus bicinctores (Iguania, Crotaphytidae). Main compounds were steroids (mainly two triunsaturated steroids and cholesterol), carboxylic acids (mainly hexadecanoic acid), waxy esters of long chain fatty acids, alcohols (mainly hexadecanol), aldehydes and other minor compounds. We compared these compounds with those found in other lizard species and discussed the potential signaling function of some compounds and how the xeric habitat of this lizard could have conditioned the composition of secretions.     

藏药镰形棘豆挥发性成分研究(英文)

本文通过水蒸气蒸馏、超临界CO2萃取和顶空萃取三种方法并结合GC和GC/MS技术分析藏药镰形棘豆(Oxytropis falcate Bunge)中的挥发性成分,共鉴定出58个化合物,分别占71.0%,85.6%和84.5%。烷烃类、黄酮类和醛类化合物为主要挥发性成分。3种方法得到的挥发性成分在保留时间值上具有一定的连续性,能更完全地阐述清楚藏药镰形棘豆的挥发性成分,为进一步开发利用这种药用植物提供科学依据。     

A variety of volatile compounds as markers in unifloral honey from dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.)

Volatile compounds of unifloral Salvia officinalis L. honey has been investigated for the first time. The botanical origin of ten unifloral Salvia honey samples has been ascertained by pollen analysis (the honey samples displayed 23-60% of Salvia pollen). Fifty-four volatile compounds were identified by GC and GC/MS in ten Salvia honey extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction (USE) with pentane/Et(2)O 1 : 2. The yield of isolated volatiles varied from 25.7 to 30.5 mg kg(-1). Salvia honey could be distinguished on the basis of the high percentage of benzoic acid (6.4-14.8%), and especially phenylacetic acid (5.7-18.4%). Minor, but floral-origin important volatiles were identified such as shikimate pathway derivatives, 'degraded-carotenoid-like' structures (3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-ene derivatives) and 2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-ene derivatives. Compounds from other metabolic pathways such as aliphatic acids and higher linear hydrocarbons, as well as heterocycles (pyrans, furans, and pyrroles), were also present. Most of the identified compounds do not constitute specific Salvia honey markers, due to their presence in honeys of other botanical origins; however, their ratio in different honeys could be useful to distinguish floral origin. Salvia-honey volatile markers were: benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, p-anisaldehyde, alpha-isophorone, 4-ketoisophorone, dehydrovomifoliol, 2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-ene-1-carbaldehyde, 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexane-1,4-dione, and coumaran.     

Discrimination of female sex pheromone by male Trichoplusia ni (Hubner)

The olfactory discrimination process of male cabbage loopermoths, Trichoplusa ni (Hübner), was assessed by measuringtheir response to one of two emission sources within a windtunnel. The males discriminated between (1) Z7–12:Ac concentrations;(2) Z7–12:Ac alone and the volatile emission from excisedfemale sex pheromone glands; and (3) Z7–12:Ac and theemission from a mixture of six synthetic pheromone componentsthat mimics the volatile emissions of a female gland. Althoughmales could discriminate between a freshly excised female sexpheromone gland and 7.4x 10^–11 M Z7–12:Ac, theycould not discriminate between a gland and 78.5x10^–11M Z7–12:Ac. Males also could not discriminate betweenthe mixture of six volatile compounds and 28.7x10^–11 Mof Z7–12:Ac. The data show that male cabbage looper mothshave difficulty discriminating between Z7–12:Ac aloneand in mixtures with other female-emitted volatile compounds.     

Effect of leucine on aroma volatiles production from Ceratocystis fimbriata grown in liquid culture

Aroma volatiles produced by Ceratocystis fimbriata on a defined liquid synthetic medium with and without the addition of leucine were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and quantified by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection in the liquid medium as well as in the headspace. Volatiles were extracted from the liquid by simultaneous steam distillation–solvent extraction. Ceratocystis fimbriata produced a complex set of volatile intermediary metabolites, of which ethanol was the dominant compound (92–95% of total volatiles). Low molecular weight esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, and carboxylic acids were identified in the liquid broth. Alcohols and esters were the most abundant aroma volatiles. Leucine addition effected further growth and higher volatiles production. In the headspace, ethanol and ethyl acetate accounted for 92% of total volatiles over the synthetic medium and 89% when leucine was added. Aroma perception (fruity and banana) correlated closely with liquid and headspace total volatiles.     

Social housing influences the composition of volatile compounds in the preputial glands of male rats

In rodents the preputial glands are one of the major sources of pheromones. These volatile chemosignaling compounds are known to elicit specific behavioral and physiological effects in their conspecifics. While social stress can alter both the behavior and hormonal status of rodents, little is known about its influence on the volatile constituents of the preputial glands. We have examined the composition of volatile compounds in the preputial glands of gonadally intact male rats housed for 70 days in either unisex triads (three/cage) or singly. The rank status of triad-housed rats was based on quantitative behavioral assessments taken during the initial 30 min of triad housing. Dominant rats had heavier preputial glands compared to subdominant and subordinate rats. Capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 56 volatile preputial compounds, of these 17 did not differ between groups while 26 compounds were significantly higher in the single-housed compared to the triad-housed rats. Six additional volatile compounds were higher in the dominant compared to the other 3 groups, while another six compounds were higher in both the dominant and single-housed rats compared to the subdominant and subordinate rats. It can be concluded that both housing condition and social rank status have significant but different effects on the composition of volatile compounds found in preputial glands of male rats. The physiological and behavioral significance of these changes in preputial gland volatile compound composition in rats remain to be investigated.     

Electroantennogram responses of Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae) to plant volatile compounds

Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings were made from the plaque organ receptors of the rice brown plant hopper, Nilaparvata lugens (St?l). The receptors of the distal plaque organ of both male and female hoppers responded to the air from above chopped rice plants, and those of females gave a larger response. Female hoppers, tested with 27 plant volatiles, gave dose-related responses to 16 of the compounds, including a range of green leaf volatiles. The aliphatic aldehydes hexanal and (E)-2-hexenal elicited a larger response than a range of green leaf alcohols. Of the remaining compounds, acetophenone, benzaldehyde, ethyl and methyl benzoate, and amyl and isoamyl acetate were among the most effective in eliciting responses. Receptor recovery times showed some variation between compounds. A comparison of the dose-related response of 16 compounds in paraffin oil and in pentane showed that considerably larger responses were recorded when the highly volatile solvent pentane was used.