| Title: | Filling dynamics of the Brindley's glands in the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) |
| Author(s): | Palottini F; Gonzalez A; Manrique G; |
| Address: | "Laboratorio de Fisiologia de Insectos, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IBBEA, CONICET-UBA, Intendente Guiraldes 2160 C1428EGA, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: florpal@bg.fcen.uba.ar. Laboratorio de Ecologia Quimica, Departamento de Quimica Organica, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad de la Republica, Gral. Flores 2124, CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: agonzal29@gmail.com. Laboratorio de Fisiologia de Insectos, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IBBEA, CONICET-UBA, Intendente Guiraldes 2160 C1428EGA, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: gabo@bg.fcen.uba.ar" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.10.012 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-1611 (Electronic) 0022-1910 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The filling dynamics of exocrine defensive glands is an important component of the defensive capacity of an insect in its natural environment. We studied the filling state and reloading rate of the Brindley's glands in the haematophagous Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Quantitative analyses of isobutyric acid, the main secretion component, were carried out with glands dissected from adults under different scenarios of development, number of discharging events and feeding conditions. The alarm-pheromone function of the gland secretion was also assessed in bioassays with conspecific nymphs. Although pharate adults have their glands completely developed, these were not full until imaginal ecdysis. If kept undisturbed, the adults maintained a constant gland load, and discharged about 75% of the gland contents upon one disturbance event. While the glands can be discharged several times, full replenishing was not complete after one week, unless the insect had access to food. The escape behavior of nymphs in bioassays correlated with the chemical analyses, with nymphs showing significant avoidance only toward gland discharges from undisturbed or disturbed/fed adults. The results are discussed in reference to the feeding frequency and gregarious behavior of T. infestans under natural conditions, which suggest a relevant role of the filling dynamics of the Brindley's glands in the intraspecific communication of the insect" |
| Keywords: | Animals Exocrine Glands/metabolism Feeding Behavior Isobutyrates/*metabolism/*pharmacology Molting Nymph/physiology Pheromones/*metabolism/*pharmacology Triatoma/growth & development/*physiology Alarm pheromone Brindley's glands Isobutyric acid Triatoma i; |
| Notes: | "MedlinePalottini, Florencia Gonzalez, Andres Manrique, Gabriel eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2014/12/03 J Insect Physiol. 2014 Dec; 71:122-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.10.012. Epub 2014 Oct 30" |
