Volatile substances in the pygidial secretion of gyrinid beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae)

Summary Gyrinid beetles are common in freshwater habitats. They have paired pygidial glands with a secretion that contains high molecular weight substances rendering them toxic for predatory fish. In this paper we report on a laboratory study on volatile components released by three different gyrinid species when irritated. The volatile pattern had a clear difference between the different species.Gyrinus substriatus andG. aeratus, both produced 3-methyl-1-butanal and 3-methyl-1-butanol when irritated, but in quite different amounts. The third tested species,G. minutus, did not produce any substances above the detection level. It is suggested that the volatile compounds may be part of the beetles' communication and/or defence system.     

Exudation of UV-light absorbing natural products by seedlings ofNuphar lutea

Summary Seedlings ofNuphar lutea (L.) Sm. were raised from seeds and cultivated in a synthetic sterile nutrient solution under physiologically controlled and undisturbed conditions. The extracellular release of carbon compounds from the plants into the surrounding medium was examined by direct carbon estimation, by various specific chemical assays and by HPLC analysis. Direct carbon estimation was not sensitive enough to obtain reliable values; five of six specific chemical assays also failed. Only the Folin-Denis assay indicated there was a production of phenolic compounds, which followed a linear course that took up to six days of incubation. The phenolic compounds ranged between 0.2 and 1.3 µg/h g dry weight. Rp-HPLC with UV detection yielded a major fraction containing at least five highly polar compounds (not retainable on reversed phase), and a minor fraction of at least eight less polar (rp-retainable) compounds. Exudation followed a linear course for some days up to a distinct level of saturation in the surrounding medium. Cultures incubated in light or absolute darkness exhibit the same production rates; however, lower temperatures caused significant reduction in the production rate and on the pattern of exuded compounds as well. After withdrawing the exuded compounds by rinsing the cultures, a new production can be repeatedly induced many times until the potential of the system is seemingly exhausted. Nuphar seedlings procedures are introduced as a new macrophyte system suitable for studying the mechanism of extracellular secretion among aquatic macrophytes.     

Tarsal secretion marks food sources in bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Summary Scent-marking of artificial food sources by workers of the bumblebee,Bombus terrestris, was investigated. Odour marks deposited on artificial flowers were subsequently collected and chemically analysed. Alkanes and alkenes were identified as the main components. The behaviour mediating capacity of synthetic mixtures of the identified compounds was bioassayed using an artificial flower system. A mixture of alkanes and alkenes, close to natural proportions, released regular foraging behaviour. The reaction proved to be dose-dependent.     

Pheromones inBlattella germanica andBlaberus craniifer (Blaberoidea): Glandular source,morphology and analyses of pheromonally released behaviours

Females ofBlattella germanica andBlaberus craniifer produce a volatile sex pheromone attractive at a distance for conspecific males. During the emission of the pheromone, females ofB. craniifer adopt a typical calling posture; we never observe such a stance inB. germanica females. For both species, the glandular structures responsible for pheromonal production are located on the female pygidium. InB. germanica, the thickness of the glandular epithelium is clearly correlated with the attractiveness of females, being maximum for 13 day old females. The functions of the pygidial glands are discussed in both species.     

Chemoecological studies of the exocrine glandular larval secretions of two chrysomelid species (Coleoptera):Phaedon cochleariae andChrysomela lapponica

Summary The exocrine glandular secretions of larvae of the subfamily Chrysomelinae are known to repel conspecific adults, other competitive phytophagous insects and natural enemies. InPhaedon cochleariae, the intraspecific activity of tlc fractions of the larval secretion was tested in order to examine the ecological significance of two fractions containing minor components and a fraction containing the major compound, the cyclopentanoid monoterpene (epi)chrysomelidial. InChrysomela lapponica, the defensive activity of the larval secretion against ants is known from specimens feeding upon willow or birch. The feeding preferences of larvae and adults ofC. lapponica from a Finnish and a Czech population were tested. The Finnish individuals significantly preferred feeding uponSalix borealis, whereas they hardly fed upon birch. The Czech specimens clearly preferred birch (Betula pubescens) to willow species. Application of salicin onto leaves of a willow species free of this phenolglycoside revealed that the Finnish individuals preferred feeding upon leaves with salicin. On the other hand, the Czech individuals avoided feeding upon leaves ofB. pubescens treated with salicin. The chemical composition of the glandular secretion of the Finnish larvae differed from the one of the Czech larvae. GC-MS-analyses of the secretions revealed that salicylaldehyde was the only major component of the secretion of Finnish larvae feeding upon the salicin-containing willowS. borealis. The glandular secretion of the Czech larvae feeding upon birch contained numerous esters of isobutyric acid and 2-methylbutyric acid. When Czech larvae had fed upon a salicin-containing willow (S. fragilis), the major compounds of their secretion were benzoic acid, salicylalcohol and benzoic acid esters; salicylaldehyde was only detected in traces. Thus,C. lapponica individuals from the Finland population adapted so closely to a salicincontaining willow that they clearly prefer this plant for food and that they obviously derive their main larval defensive compound (salicylaldehyde) from their host-plant.     

Immune activation affects chemical sexual ornaments of male Iberian wall lizards

Many animals use chemical signals in sexual selection, but it is not clear how these sexual traits might have evolved to signal honestly male condition. It is possible that there is a trade-off between maintaining the immune system and the elaboration of ornaments. We experimentally challenged the immune system of male Iberian wall lizards, Podarcis hispanica, with a bacterial antigen (lipopolysaccharide), without pathogenic effects, to explore whether the immune activation affected chemical ornaments. Immune activation resulted in decreased proportions of a major chemical in femoral secretions (cholesta-5,7-dien-3-ol = provitamin D(3)) known to be selected in scent of males by females and which active form (vitamin D) has a variety of important effects on immune system function. This result suggests the existence of a potential trade-off between physiological regulation of the immune system and the allocation of essential nutrients (vitamins) to sexual chemical ornaments in male lizards.     

Chemical defense of an earwig (Doru taeniatum)

Summary. The earwig Doru taeniatum (Dermaptera, Forficulidae) has a pair of defensive glands, opening on the 4th abdominal tergite, from which it discharges a spray when disturbed. It aims the discharges by revolving the abdomen, a maneuver that enables it simultaneously to use its pincers in defense. The secretion contains two quinones (methyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone) present in the glands as a crystalline mass, together with pentadecane and a (presumably) aqueous phase. The gland openings are minute, with the result that virtually no quinone crystals are expelled with the spray. Only the two liquid phases are discharged, together with the ca. 1% quinone they carry in solution. Such a solute-economizing discharge mechanism appears to be without parallel among insect defensive glands. Received 14 February 2000; accepted 21 February 2000     

溶藻细菌DC21的分离、鉴定及其溶藻特性

从云南滇池中分离得到一株溶藻细菌DC21,经鉴定为葡萄球菌属的1种(Staphylococcussp.),可溶解铜绿微囊等9种藻.试验表明,经过滤、离心沉降及高温灭菌处理的滤液,均能强烈抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长,说明其溶藻作用的因子之一为该菌的胞外分泌物,且这种物质具有热稳定性.细菌DC21使藻的光合作用受到抑制;在试验的第1d,受试藻的超氧物歧化酶及过氧化氢酶活性显著增高,但在第7d,这两种抗氧化保护酶的活性显著下降;受试藻的丙二醛含量明显增高,说明该菌促使其发生了膜脂过氧化.     

Functional and morphological alterations induced by uranyl nitrate in rat submandibular gland

Exposure to uranium (U) is an occupational hazard to workers who continually handle it and an environmental risk to the population at large. Adverse effects of U on different tissues, particularly kidneys, have been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether U might produce damage to the rat submandibular gland (SMG). Uranyl nitrate (UN) was used to evaluate the secretory responses to norepinephrine (NE) or to the parasympathomimetic agent, methacholine (MC), along with some morphological and histological parameters. In addition, the presence of U in saliva was determined by atomic absorption spectrometric techniques. Results indicate that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a single dose of UN (2 or 4 mg kg^?1) induced a functional decrease in the induced secretory responses in the rat SMG, demonstrating for the first time that U interferes with salivary secretion. Moreover, salivary responses to MC as well as to NE were decreased after UN administration, in time- and dose-dependent manner, displaying a higher diminution after 7 days post injection. In agreement with the functional studies, the injection of UN produced morphological alterations of SMG, consisting in a reduction of mean acinar area and a marked vacuolization. Data indicate that UN produced an adverse effect in a dose- and time-dependent manner on SMG function and morphology. Furthermore, it was shown that U was incorporated in saliva and therefore, these findings may contribute to create a useful, noninvasive method to detect the exposure to U.     

Cobalt-induced hormonal and intracellular alterations in rat ovarian fragments in vitro

The objective of this in vitro study was to examine dose-dependent changes in the secretion activity (progesterone, 17β-estradiol and insulin-like growth factor-I) of rat ovarian fragments after experimental cobalt (Co) administration including the apoptotic potential of Co on rat ovarian fragments by evaluating the expression of apoptotic markers Bax and caspase-3. Ovarian fragments were incubated with cobalt sulphate (CoSO₄.7H₂O) at the doses 90, 170, 330 and 500 μg.mL^?1 for 24 h and compared with control group without Co addition. Release of progesterone (P₄) 17β-estradiol and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) by ovarian fragments was assessed by RIA, expression of Bax and caspase-3 by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Observations show that P₄ release by ovarian fragments was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited after cobalt sulphate addition at higher doses 170–500 μg.mL^?1 used in the study in comparison to control. However, cobalt sulphate addition did not cause any significant change in the release of 17β-estradiol by ovarian fragments at all the doses used in the study (90–500 μg.mL^?1) in comparison to control. On the contrary, IGF-I release by ovarian fragments was significantly (P < 0.05) stimulated after cobalt sulphate addition at the lowest dose 90 μg.mL^?1 in comparison to control, while other doses did not cause any significant change. Also, addition of cobalt sulphate decreased the expression of both the apoptotic peptides Bax and caspase-3 at the higher doses 170, 330 and 500 μg.mL^?1, but not at the lowest dose 90 μg.mL^?1 used in the study. Obtained results suggest Co induced (1) inhibition in secretion of steroid hormone progesterone, (2) dose-dependent increase in the release of growth factor IGF-I, and (3) decrease in the expression of markers of apoptosis (Bax and caspase-3) of rat ovarian fragments.