Host plant and natural enemy impact on cereal aphid competition in a seasonal environment

Competition between phytophagous insects could be mediated by differential impact of natural enemies or by induced changes in host plant quality. The interaction between the aphids Sipha flava and Rhopalosiphum maidis on the shared host plant, Sorghum halepense , was evaluated during the fall and spring seasons in the presence or absence of natural enemies in a garden experiment. During the fall, S. flava was negatively affected by R. maidis in all treatments. However, during the spring season, S. flava was not affected by R. maidis when natural enemies were excluded, and positively affected by R. maidis with natural enemies present. Rhopalosiphum maidis was negatively affected by S. flava during the fall and spring seasons under all treatments. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that changes in host plant quality induced by S. flava attack and the presence of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes negatively affected R. maidis , but not S. flava . Under abiotic conditions simulating fall and spring (lower temperature and daylength in the fall than in the spring), S. flava showed lower performance than R. maidis under "fall" conditions, and both aphid species showed similar life history traits under "spring" conditions. For S. flava , the time to the first reproduction and longevity were longer, and the nymphal production was lower, under "fall" conditions than under "spring" conditions. Our results showed that S. flava is benefited when R. maidis and the parasitoid L. testaceipes are present but the abiotic conditions are not adverse.     

Experimenteller Beitrag zur Kenntnis der biogenen Amine im Glomus caroticum des Kaninchens

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß von p-Chlorphenylalanin-methylester-hydrochlorid (PCPA) und Reserpin auf die biogenen Amine des Glomus caroticum von Kaninchen wurde ultrastrukturell und fluoreszenzmikroskopisch untersucht. Die elektronenmikroskopische Analyse ergab keine eindeutigen Kriterien für arzneimittelinduzierte Veränderungen. Fluoreszenzmikroskopisch ließ sich nach Applikation von Reserpin eine ausgeprägte Senkung des Catecholamin- und Indolamin-Gehaltes und nach PCPA eine Abnahme des Serotonins erkennen.

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Electron microscopic and fluorescence microscopic studies of biogenic amines in the rabbit glomus caroticum after treatment with reserpine and PCPA

Summary The effects of p-chlorophenylalanine-methylester-hydrochloride (PCPA) and reserpine on biogenic amines of the rabbit carotid body were investigated ultrastructurally and by fluorescence microscopy. The electron microscopic analysis did not indicate significantly that structural changes result from treatment with reserpine or PCPA. Fluorescence microscopy indicated that PCPA lowered serotonin, and reserpine lowered both catecholamines and indolamines.

Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Semiochemicals associated to spacing behaviour of the bird cherry-oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi L. (Hem., Aphididae) do not affect the olfactometric behaviour of the cereal aphid parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi De Stephani-Pérez (Hym., Braconidae)

Volatiles produced by the interaction of Rhopalosiphum padi and wheat, and semiochemicals which elicit the spacing behaviour of R. padi on wheat and oat, were evaluated in an olfactometer against the cereal aphid parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi . The parasitoid was attracted by volatiles produced by the R. padi -wheat interaction at high density of aphids, but not by the R. padi -wheat interaction at low density. Compounds produced by the interaction of wheat or oat that was infested with a high density of aphids (approximately 9 aphids/cm²), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (MHO), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol (MHOH), 2-tridecanone (2-T), and methyl salicylate (MS), neither attracted nor repelled A. rhopalosiphi as pure compounds or in the naturally occurring mixture. The results are discussed in terms of the use of semiochemicals and parasitoids in the integrated management of aphid pests.     

Preclinical Analgesic and Safety Evaluation of the GalR2-preferring Analog,NAX 810-2

The potential clinical utility of galanin peptidic analogs has been hindered by poor metabolic stability, lack of brain penetration, and hyperglycemia. In addition to possessing potent anticonvulsant efficacy, galanin analogs are analgesic in various assays. The purpose of these studies was to evaluate the lead galanin receptor type 2 (GalR2)-preferring analog, NAX 810-2, in various pain assays, as well as determine any potential for insulin inhibition, growth hormone stimulation, and cognitive impairment. NAX 810-2 was evaluated in mouse (carrageenan, formalin, tail flick, plantar incision) and rat pain models (partial sciatic nerve ligation). NAX 810-2 dose-dependently increased paw withdrawal latency following plantar administration of carrageenan (ED₅₀ 4.7 mg/kg). At a dose of 8 mg/kg, NAX 810-2 significantly attenuated nociceptive behaviors following plantar administration of formalin, and this was observed for both phase I (acute) and phase II (inflammatory) components of the formalin behavioral response. NAX-810-2 was active at higher doses in the mouse tail flick model (ED₅₀ 20.2 mg/kg) and similarly, reduced mechanical allodynia following plantar incision in mice at a dose of 24 mg/kg. NAX 810-2 also reduced mechanical allodynia in the partial sciatic nerve ligation model at a dose of 4 mg/kg. In addition, NAX 810-2 did not impair insulin secretion at doses of 2.5 and 8 mg/kg (acutely) or at a dose of 8 mg/kg given daily for 5 days. Similarly, 8 mg/kg (twice daily, 5 days) of NAX 810-2 did not increase growth hormone levels. These results demonstrate that NAX 810-2 possesses a favorable pre-clinical profile as a novel and first-in-class analgesic.     

Chemical self-recognition in the lizard Liolaemus fitzgeraldi

Social–chemical recognition is exhibited by all the Liolaemus lizards tested to date, except Liolaemus fitzgeraldi, which during post-hibernation did not discriminate chemosignals of same-sex individuals from a control. To clarify if L. fitzgeraldi is unique among the studied Liolaemus in lacking social–chemical recognition or if this was previously undetected, we recorded behavior during pre- and post-hibernation when confronted with chemosignals of conspecifics and from themselves. L fitzgeraldi showed self-recognition and seasonal changes in two exploratory behaviors. Potentially, conspecific recognition in L fitzgeraldi was undetected due to seasonality, but this species may rely comparatively less on chemical communication than congeners.     

Species richness of herbivorous insects on Nothofagus trees in South America and New Zealand: The importance of chemical attributes of the host

Several studies have evaluated the relative contribution of various host-plant attributes to the species richness of the associated insect herbivores, with and without the inclusion of the phylogeny of the host species for Northern hemisphere trees. In general these studies reached the same conclusion: tree availability (range and abundance) was a good predictor of insect species richness, although chemical attributes of the trees were not tested. The present study evaluates the relative contribution of ecological attributes of host-plant species within the Southern hemisphere genus Nothofagus, to the species richness of their associated insect fauna in South America and New Zealand. The variables included were: area of distribution (a), including longitudinal (rln) and latitudinal ranges (rlt), architectural complexity (c) and phytochemical attributes of the species, including chemical diversity (d) and chemical uniqueness (u). The analysis by independent contrasts revealed that the latitudinal range is an important factor, which explained the insect richness associated with Nothofagus for all guilds and taxonomic orders, except for the sap feeders. Compared to the non-phylogenetic analyses, including host-plant phylogeny led to the inclusion of additional variables in the regression equations. Phytochemical uniqueness of the host plants was an important factor to explain insect species richness. For example, Nothofagus alessandrii, the species with the most unique chemistry, had very few and mostly specialised herbivores, whereas Nothofagus dombeyi, with the least unique chemistry, had the highest number of related insect species. We conclude that, in addition to geographic range and phylogenetic relatedness, studies of insect herbivore diversity must also examine plant chemical composition.     

Rapid recycling of ClC‐2 chloride channels between plasma membrane and endosomes: Role of a tyrosine endocytosis motif in surface retrieval

ClC‐2 chloride channel is present in the brain and some transporting epithelia where its function is poorly understood. We have now demonstrated that the surface channels are rapidly internalised and approximately the 70% of the surface membrane protein recycles after 4‐ to 8‐min internalisation. Endocytosis of ClC‐2 was dependent upon tyrosine 179 located within an endocytic motif. Rapid recycling accompanied by an even faster internalisation could account for the abundant presence of ClC‐2 in intracellular membranous structures. At least a proportion of ClC‐2 resides in lipid rafts. Use of β‐cyclodextrin led to an increase in cell surface channel, but, surprisingly, a decrease in functionally active channels. We suggest that ClC‐2 requires residing in β‐cyclodextrin sensitive clusters with other molecules in order to remain active. Regulation of ClC‐2 trafficking to and within the membrane could be a means of modulating its activity. J. Cell. Physiol. 221: 650–657, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.