Title: | Cuticular lipids and odors induce sex-specific behaviors in the male cricket Gryllus bimaculatus |
Address: | "Biochemistry Laboratory, The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan" |
Journal Title: | Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.01.008 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1531-4332 (Electronic) 1095-6433 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Male crickets display sex-specific (e.g., mating and agonistic) behaviors towards conspecific individuals. One of the key signals for these behaviors is the chemical substance on the cricket body surface. In the present study, we analyzed female and male cuticular substances in behavioral assays. Antennal contact stimulation using female forewings elicited a mating behavior in males, while that using male forewings elicited an agonistic behavior in males. Thin-layer-chromatographic and other techniques analysis showed that saturated cuticular lipids were present in both female and male cuticles and that unsaturated lipids were present only in the male cuticle. Filter papers soaked with saturated or unsaturated cuticular lipids were applied to antennae of male crickets. Males showed mating behavior in response to stimulation with saturated lipids from both females and males but showed avoidance behavior in response to stimulation with male unsaturated lipids. Because cuticular lipids did not induce agonistic behavior in males, we collected odors from male crickets and found that these odors induced agonistic behavior in males. Therefore, we concluded that the key signals for mating, avoidance and agonistic behaviors of male crickets are comprised of at least three different components, saturated and unsaturated cuticular lipids and male odors, respectively" |
Keywords: | "Animal Communication Animals Chromatography, Thin Layer Female Gryllidae/drug effects/*physiology Insect Hormones/isolation & purification/pharmacology/physiology Lipids/isolation & purification/*pharmacology Male *Odorants Pheromones/isolation & purifica;" |
Notes: | "MedlineIwasaki, Masazumi Katagiri, Chihiro eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/02/12 Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2008 Mar; 149(3):306-13. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.01.008. Epub 2008 Jan 17" |