Assessment of Electrolytes and Metals Profile of the Faro Lake (Capo Peloro Lagoon,Sicily, Italy) and Its Impact on Mytilus galloprovincialis

Faro Lake is a coastal meromictic lagoon with singular characteristics in the Mediterranean (Messina, Sicily – Italy). It is part of the Natural Oriented Reserve of Capo Peloro (38° 15′ 57″ N; 15° 37′ 50″ E). In this area, traditional mollusc farming activity persists, producing ‘autochthonous’ mussels. This study reports of the Mytilus galloprovincialis haemolymph chemical profile and water variables determination of 1 year‐lasted survey (April 2016 – March 2017). The determinations of electrolytes (Na⁺, Cl^–, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, P inorganic) and heavy metals in both Faro lake water and haemolymph have been carried out. Heavy metals are elements with high density and are quite toxic in low concentrations, such as Aluminum (Al), Arsenic (As), Cobalt (Co), Chrome (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Tin (Sn), Zinc (Zn). Heavy metals toxicity depends, principally, on bioaccumulation processes. M. galloprovincialis is a good bio‐indicator, ideal for assess levels of environmental pollution thanks to its biological, ecological and physiological characteristics. The results of this study showed a typical fluctuation range in haemolymph and water parameters, related to the water ones; chemical‐physical parameters affected the ions (electrolytes and metals) levels in some period of the year. The study reports the interactions between biotic (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and abiotic (water parameters) components of Faro Lake, and creates reference data for further future study on the same area or on similar ones.     

Circadian rhythms of melatonin in haemolymph and optic lobes of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and Chinese grass shrimp (Palaemonetes sinensis)

This study is the first to examine the circadian rhythms of melatonin in Eriocheir sinensis and Palaemonetes sinensis, two economically important crustaceans. We collected haemolymph and optic lobes from both species every 4 h over a whole day cycle. Melatonin content was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. E. sinensis haemolymph exhibited significant (p < 0.05) peaks in melatonin at 16:00 (0.180 ± 0.020 μg·mL^?1) and 24:00 (0.244 ± 0.055 μg·mL^?1), while eyestalks had significant peaks at 16:00 (72.377 ± 18.100 μg·eyestalk^?1) and 24:00 (98.756 ± 30.271 μg·eyestalk^?1). In P. sinensis, melatonin peaked significantly only at 16:00 in optic lobes (12.493 ± 1.475 μg·eyestalk^?1) (p < 0.05); no significant peaks were present in haemolymph. Thus, both E. sinensis and P. sinensis exhibit species-specific melatonin rhythms. Time of day should therefore be considered when examining the physiological status of both crustaceans, given the potential influence of fluctuating daily melatonin concentrations.     

Immunological analysis of apolipophorin-III in the haemolymph,ovaries, and testes of the fall webworm,Hyphantria cunea (Drury)

Apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) was purified from the haemolymph of adult Hyphantria cunea (Drury) by KBr density gradient ultracentrifugation, gel filtration (Sephadex G-100) and ion exchange chromatography (CM-52), and its characteristics, molecular weight, tissue distribution, and sites of synthesis were examined. Molecular weight of apoLp-III was estimated to be 18 kDa. By electrophoretic analysis on 10% gels of male and female haemolymph from diverse developmental stages, apoLp-III was shown to be present in all stages. Western blotting was carried out to show that purified free apoLp-III is identical to apoLp-III associated with adult lipophorin. Immunological analysis also showed that apoLp-III is present in the ovary and the testis and in the case of testis, apoLp-III is heavily accumulated in the cyst. ApoLp-III is synthesized in larval and adult fat body but not in adult testis. Autoradiography following incubation of [¹⁴C]apoLp-III with testis showed that apoLp-III was taken up into testis. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

An electrophoretic study of proteins of the ovary,fat body,and haemolymph in the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes

Electrophoretic separation of saline extracts from the ovary revealed 14 proteins. Twelve proteins were detected in the fat body, of which seven had electrophoretic mobilities identical to those in the ovary. Similarly, eight of 16 proteins in the haemolymph of vitellogenic females ahad electrophoretically identical counterparts in the ovary. As these proteins accumulate in the haemolymph of ovariectomized females, the findings suggest that most yolk proteins are synthesized in the fat body. Although most female haemolymph proteins are present in males, two of the predominant yolk protiens are absent and represent female-specific proteins.Although certain proteins accumulate in the haemolymph of allatectomized females, the major ovarian proteins are absent or present in low concentrations. However, 48 hr after allatectomized females are treated with a juvenile hormone analogue, the haemolymph protein pattern resembles that of a normal female. This suggests that the corpora allata stimulate the synthesis of female-specific and other vitellogenic proteins. The median neurosecretory cells (mNSC) are also necessary for synthesis of female-specific proteins. Furthermore, proteins which are present in allatectomized females are absent in mNSC-cauterized insects suggesting that the mNSC stimulate general protein synthesis.     

In vitro studies on hormone-stimulated lipid mobilization from fat body and interconversion of haemolymph lipoproteins of Locusta migratoria

Both adipokinetic hormone and octopamine have a stimulating effect on lipid release from locust fat body in vitro, when incubated in diluted haemolymph. The presence of adipokinetic hormone results in the formation of the flight-specific haemolymph lipoprotein A⁺ accepting the increased amount of lipids released into the incubation medium. In contrast, interconversions of lipoproteins do not occur when octopamine is added to the incubation medium, which is in line with the expectations: the lipid-mobilizing effect of octopamine is a limited and short-term effect. When fat body tissue is incubated with isolated haemolymph protein fractions, the lipid-mobilizing effect of adipokinetic hormone only occurs when the incubation medium contains both lipoprotein, A_y and protein fraction C, resulting in the formation of lipoprotein A⁺. In similar control incubations with the hormone omitted, some lipoprotein A⁺ is also formed (concomitant with a slight amount of lipid released), though significantly less than in incubations with hormone. Besides a stimulating function on lipolytic processes in the fat body, adipokinetic hormone is suggested to influence haemolymph lipoprotein rearrangement. A possible counteracting function of another factor in the haemolymph is discussed.     

Characteristics of larvae of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, obtained from populations present in tropical and temperate regions

A comparative study was undertaken of southwestern corn borers (Diatraea grandiosella) collected from south central Mexico (19°N latitude) and southeast Missouri (37°N latitude). All the life stages of the Mexican insects were found to be larger or heavier, or both, than were those of the Missouri insects. Mexican larvae grew at a higher rate and attained a significantly heavier body weight than did Missouri larvae. Although both Mexican and Missouri larvae underwent ecdyses during diapause, Mexican larvae ecdysed more frequently than did the Missouri larvae at 23°C light:dark 12 h:12 h. Larvae that ecdysed most frequently did not necessarily spend longer in diapause. Electrophoresis of the fat body and haemolymph proteins of Mexican and Missouri larvae revealed similar patterns. The fat body of diapausing Mexican larvae contained substantial amounts of a diapause-associated protein which has been characterized previously from the fat body of Missouri Larvae. Double immunodiffusion confirmed that the diapause-associated protein of the Mexican larvae was identical to that present in the Missouri larvae. Smaller amounts of this protein appear to be present in the fat body of diapausing Mexican larvae than are present in that of diapausing Missouri larvae.     

Haemolymph protein reserves of diapausing and nondiapausing codling moth larvae, Cydia pomonella (L) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Haemolymph from diapausing codling moth larvae contain a dominant soluble protein, which is of minor significance in the haemolymph of nondiapausing larvae. This haemolymph protein is accumulated during the ultimate larval instar and its concentration is maintained throughout diapause development. Larvae induced into a diapause-like condition following topical treatment with a juvenile hormone mimie stored the haemolymph protein.     

Water relations and haemolymph composition of two intertidal spiders (order araneae)

Water relations and haemolymph composition have been compared in two intertidal spiders which inhabit different zones of a rocky shore in the Cape Peninsula. Evaporative water losses of the mid-shore species, Desis formidabilis (O.P. Cambridge), are much greater than those of Amaurobioides africanus Hewitt, which occurs higher on the shore. Both species avoid desiccating conditions by remaining in silk-lined nests in suitable microclimates, and the nests of Desis formidabilis are submerged for a substantial portion of each tidal cycle. Osmolarities and sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride concentrations were measured for the haemolymph of both spiders. The haemolymph chemistry of Amaurobioides africanus resembles that of terrestrial spiders. The haemolymph of Desis formidabilis, however, has an osmolarity of 930 mOsm/l, a sodium concentration of 451 mM/l and a chloride concentration of 466 mM/l. It is suggested that this unusually concentrated haemolymph may represent an adaptation to a diet of marine crustaceans.     

Cold hardiness in the Alpine beetles Patrobus septentrionis and Calathus melanocephalus

Alpine Patrobus septentrionis and Calathus melanocephalus (Col., Carabidae) were found to be susceptible to freezing. In the summer, the supercooling points were about ?5 to ?6°C. They were lowered during acclimation in the field and in the laboratory at 0 or ?3°C. Cold hardiness was correlated to, but not determined by, haemolymph osmolality. Thermal hysteresis was not detected. Increase in cold hardiness was concluded to be mainly a result of the influence of acclimation conditions on ice-nucleating compounds. In P. septentrionis, the results indicate that different compounds with ice-nucleation activity at different temperatures determine the limit of supercooling at different times. The haemolymph of both species supercooled well below the intact beetles at all seasons. Changes in haemolymph supercooling points could be ascribed to inactivation of ice nucleators in early autumn and to the effect of changes in solute concentration. In P. septentrionis, myo-inositol increased during cold-acclimation to 80–120 mMol concentrations, whereas C. melanocephalus produced 40–60 mMol trehalose.     

嗜菌异小杆线虫H06品系对红棕象甲致病力的时间效应及对血淋巴的影响

【目的】阐明嗜菌异小杆线虫H06品系处理对红棕象甲血淋巴免疫系统的影响。【方法】采用室内生物测定和生理生化测定法,研究了嗜菌异小杆线虫H06品系对红棕象甲不同虫态的致病力及对血淋巴各项指标的调节作用。【结果】嗜菌异小杆线虫H06品系对红棕象甲不同虫态的致病力与处理浓度和处理时间均呈正相关性,经嗜菌异小杆线虫H06品系处理后,红棕象甲血淋巴总量和血淋巴酯酶均呈前期升高、后期降低的趋势,处理后72 h的血淋巴总量和酯酶活性与对照相比分别降低39.73%和53.36%;血淋巴蛋白含量与对照相比呈下降的趋势,虽在60 h时有一个短暂的回升,之后又迅速下降,其中在处理后72 h,血淋巴的蛋白含量与对照相比下降74.96%。【结论】嗜菌异小杆线虫H06品系的侵入破坏了红棕象的血淋巴免疫系统,本研究结果可为揭示昆虫病原线虫对红棕象甲的致病机理提供依据。