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Romero S, Laino A, Molina G, Cunningham M, Garcia CF. Embryonic and post-embryonic development of the spider Polybetes pythagoricus (Sparassidae): A biochemical point of view. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20210159. [PMID: 35976362 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis of energy expense during development has achieved special interest through time on account of the crucial role of the consumption of resources required for offspring survival. Spider eggs have a fixed composition as well as some initial energy that is supplied by mothers. These resources are necessary to support the metabolic expense not only through the embryonic period but also during the post-embryonic period, as well as for post emerging activities before spiderlings become self-sustaining. Depletion of these resources would be critical for spiders since it could give rise to prey competition as well as filial cannibalism. Even though spiders represent a megadiverse order, information regarding the metabolic requirements during spiders development is very scarce. In this study, we analyse the changes in protein, lipid and carbohydrate content as well as the variation in lipovitellin reserves and hemocyanin content during Polybetes pythagoricus development. Our results show that lipovitellins and phospholipids represent the major energy source throughout embryonic and post-embryonic development. Lipovitellin apolipoproteins are gradually consumed but are later depleted after dispersion. Phosphatidylethanolamine is mainly consumed during the post-embryonic period, while triacylglycerides are consumed after juveniles' dispersion. Finally, hemocyanin concentration starts to increase in postembryonic stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Romero
- Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (UNLP-CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner" (INIBIOLP), FCM, Calle 60 y 120, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Aldana Laino
- Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (UNLP-CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner" (INIBIOLP), FCM, Calle 60 y 120, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriel Molina
- Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (UNLP-CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner" (INIBIOLP), FCM, Calle 60 y 120, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Monica Cunningham
- Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (UNLP-CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner" (INIBIOLP), FCM, Calle 60 y 120, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Fernando Garcia
- Universidad Nacional de La Plata/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (UNLP-CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata "Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner" (INIBIOLP), FCM, Calle 60 y 120, La Plata (1900), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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2
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Moen C, Johnson JC, Hackney Price J. Ecdysteroid responses to urban heat island conditions during development of the western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267398. [PMID: 35482802 PMCID: PMC9049550 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) controls molting in arthropods. The timing of 20E production, and subsequent developmental transitions, is influenced by a variety of environmental factors including nutrition, photoperiod, and temperature, which is particularly relevant in the face of climate change. Environmental changes, combined with rapid urbanization, and the increasing prevalence of urban heat islands (UHI) have contributed to an overall decrease in biodiversity making it critical to understand how organisms respond to elevating global temperatures. Some arthropods, such as the Western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus, appear to thrive under UHI conditions, but the physiological mechanism underlying their success has not been explored. Here we examine the relationship between hemolymph 20E titers and spiderling development under non-urban desert (27°C), intermediate (30°C), and urban (33°C) temperatures. We found that a presumptive molt-inducing 20E peak observed in spiders at non-urban desert temperatures was reduced and delayed at higher temperatures. Intermolt 20E titers were also significantly altered in spiders reared under UHI temperatures. Despite the apparent success of black widows in urban environments, we noted that, coincident with the effects on 20E, there were numerous negative effects of elevated temperatures on spiderling development. The differential effects of temperature on pre-molt and intermolt 20E titers suggest distinct hormonal mechanisms underlying the physiological, developmental, and behavioral response to heat, allowing spiders to better cope with urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Moen
- School of Math & Natural Sciences, Arizona State University—West Campus, Glendale, AZ, United States of America
| | - J. Chadwick Johnson
- School of Math & Natural Sciences, Arizona State University—West Campus, Glendale, AZ, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Hackney Price
- School of Math & Natural Sciences, Arizona State University—West Campus, Glendale, AZ, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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3
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Ovarian Transcriptomic Analyses in the Urban Human Health Pest, the Western Black Widow Spider. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11010087. [PMID: 31940922 PMCID: PMC7017306 DOI: 10.3390/genes11010087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to their abundance and ability to invade diverse environments, many arthropods have become pests of economic and health concern, especially in urban areas. Transcriptomic analyses of arthropod ovaries have provided insight into life history variation and fecundity, yet there are few studies in spiders despite their diversity within arthropods. Here, we generated a de novo ovarian transcriptome from 10 individuals of the western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus), a human health pest of high abundance in urban areas, to conduct comparative ovarian transcriptomic analyses. Biological processes enriched for metabolism—specifically purine, and thiamine metabolic pathways linked to oocyte development—were significantly abundant in L. hesperus. Functional and pathway annotations revealed overlap among diverse arachnid ovarian transcriptomes for highly-conserved genes and those linked to fecundity, such as oocyte maturation in vitellogenin and vitelline membrane outer layer proteins, hormones, and hormone receptors required for ovary development, and regulation of fertility-related genes. Comparative studies across arachnids are greatly needed to understand the evolutionary similarities of the spider ovary, and here, the identification of ovarian proteins in L. hesperus provides potential for understanding how increased fecundity is linked to the success of this urban pest.
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Junghanns A, Holm C, Schou MF, Overgaard J, Malte H, Uhl G, Bilde T. Physiological Adaptations to Extreme Maternal and Allomaternal Care in Spiders. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Eberhard WG, Gonzaga MO. Evidence that Polysphincta-group wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) use ecdysteroids to manipulate the
web-construction behaviour of their spider hosts. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William G Eberhard
- Smithsonian Tropical Institute, Panama, Ancón, República de Panamáa
- Escuela de BiologÍa, Universidad de Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria, Costa Rica, USA
- Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Marcelo O Gonzaga
- Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
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6
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Bednarek AW, Sawadro MK, Nicewicz Ł, Babczyńska AI. Vitellogenins in the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum - expression profile and putative hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 19:4. [PMID: 30849941 PMCID: PMC6408786 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-019-0184-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge about vitellogenesis in spiders is rudimentary. Therefore, the aim of study was to check the vitellogenin (Vg) presence in various tissues of the female spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum, determine when and where vitellogenesis starts and takes place, and the putative role of selected hormones in the vitellogenesis. RESULTS Here we show two genes encoding Vg (PtVg4 and PtVg6) in the genome of the spider P. tepidariorum. One gene PtVg4 and three subunits of Vg (250 kDa, 47 kDa and 30 kDa) are expressed in the midgut glands, ovaries and hemolymph. Heterosynthesis of the Vg in the midgut glands and autosynthesis in the ovaries were observed. Vitellogenesis begins in the last nymphal stage in the midgut glands (heterosynthesis). However, after sexual maturity is reached, Vg is also synthesized in the ovaries (autosynthesis). Changes in the PtVg4 expression level and in the Vg concentration after treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone, a juvenile hormone analog (fenoxycarb) and an antijuvenoid compound (precocene I) were observed. Therefore, we propose a hypothetical model for the hormonal regulation of vitellogenesis in P. tepidariorum. CONCLUSIONS Our results are the first comprehensive study on spider vitellogenesis. In our opinion, this work will open discussion on the evolutionary context of possible similarities in the hormonal control of vitellogenesis between P. tepidariorum and other arthropods as well as their consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata W. Bednarek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, PL40007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Marta K. Sawadro
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, PL40007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Łukasz Nicewicz
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, PL40007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka I. Babczyńska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, PL40007 Katowice, Poland
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7
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Romero S, Laino A, Arrighetti F, Cunningham M, Garcia C. First study on lipid dynamics during the female reproductive cycle of Polybetes pythagoricus (Araneae: Sparassidae). CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Spiders are valuable to humans, not only for their role in health but also as biologic pest controllers. In oviparous species, lipids are the main energy source for embryo development and the growth and survival of larvae. Using the spider Polybetes pythagoricus (Holmberg, 1875) as an experimental model, we studied the fluctuations in lipids and fatty acids occurring in tissues related to vitellogenesis. Different reproductive stages (previtellogenesis, early vitellogenesis, vitellogenesis, and postvitellogenesis) were determined histologically. Gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices were first used in spiders. The midgut diverticula proved to be the organ with the highest lipid concentration, with triacylglycerols as the major component. Phospholipids were the principal lipids transported. In vitellogenesis, a major accumulation of lipids occurred in the ovary, principally phosphatidylethanolamine (41%); it probably synthesized in the midgut diverticula before being released into the hemolymph for transport and accumulation in the ovary. Phosphatidylethanolamine is possibly involved in maintaining membrane fluidity and in the function of the electron transport chain. The principal fatty acids in the different organs were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. During vitellogenesis, the ovaries become enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The lipid patterns in the male midgut diverticula, muscle, and hemolymph were similar to those of the previtellogenic or postvitellogenic females.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Romero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de la Plata Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner (INIBIOLP), CCT-La Plata CONICET-UNLP, Argentina
| | - A. Laino
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de la Plata Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner (INIBIOLP), CCT-La Plata CONICET-UNLP, Argentina
| | - F. Arrighetti
- CONICET-Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. Cunningham
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de la Plata Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner (INIBIOLP), CCT-La Plata CONICET-UNLP, Argentina
| | - C.F. Garcia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de la Plata Prof. Dr. Rodolfo R. Brenner (INIBIOLP), CCT-La Plata CONICET-UNLP, Argentina
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8
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Honda Y, Ishiguro W, Ogihara MH, Kataoka H, Taylor D. Identification and expression of nuclear receptor genes and ecdysteroid titers during nymphal development in the spider Agelena silvatica. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 247:183-198. [PMID: 28174130 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Ecdysteroids play an essential role in the regulation of the molting processes of arthropods. Nuclear receptors of the spider Agelena silvatica that showed high homology with other arthropods especially in the functional domains were identified, two isoforms of ecdysone receptor (AsEcRA, AsEcRB), retinoid X receptor (AsRXR) and two isoforms of E75 (AsE75A, AsE75D). AsEcR and AsRXR mRNA did not show major changes in expression but occurred throughout the third instar nymphal stage. AsE75DBD was low or non-existent at first then showed a sudden increase from D7 to D10. On the other hand, AsE75D was expressed in the first half and decreased from D6 to D10. Ecdysteroid titers showed a peak on D6 in A. silvatica third instar nymphs. LC-MS/MS analysis of the ecdysteroid peak revealed only 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) was present. The 20E peak on D6 and increase in AsE75DBD from D7 is likely a result of ecdysteroids binding to the heterodimer formed with constant expression of the AsEcR and AsRXR receptors. These findings indicate the mechanisms regulating molting widely conserved in insects and other arthropods also similarly function in spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Honda
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; Research and Development Department, Fumakilla Limited, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Wataru Ishiguro
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Mari H Ogihara
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Kataoka
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - DeMar Taylor
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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9
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Sawadro M, Bednarek A, Babczyńska A. The current state of knowledge on the neuroactive compounds that affect the development, mating and reproduction of spiders (Araneae) compared to insects. INVERTEBRATE NEUROSCIENCE 2017; 17:4. [DOI: 10.1007/s10158-017-0197-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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10
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Kloss TG, Gonzaga MO, de Oliveira LL, Sperber CF. Proximate mechanism of behavioral manipulation of an orb-weaver spider host by a parasitoid wasp. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171336. [PMID: 28158280 PMCID: PMC5291528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Some ichneumonid wasps induce modifications in the web building behavior of their spider hosts to produce resistant “cocoon” webs. These structures hold and protect the wasp’s cocoon during pupa development. The mechanism responsible for host manipulation probably involves the inoculation of psychotropic chemicals by the parasitoid larva during a specific developmental period. Recent studies indicate that some spiders build cocoon webs similar to those normally built immediately before ecdysis, suggesting that this substance might be a molting hormone or a precursor chemical of this hormone. Here, we report that Cyclosa spider species exhibiting modified behavior presented higher 20-OH-ecdysone levels than parasitized spiders acting normally or unparasitized individuals. We suggest that the lack of control that spiders have when constructing modified webs can be triggered by anachronic activation of ecdysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Gechel Kloss
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde, Departamento de Biologia, Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | - Carlos Frankl Sperber
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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11
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Llandres AL, Figon F, Christidès JP, Mandon N, Casas J. Environmental and hormonal factors controlling reversible colour change in crab spiders. J Exp Biol 2013; 216:3886-95. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.086470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Habitat heterogeneity that occurs within an individual's lifetime may favour the evolution of reversible plasticity. Colour reversibility has many different functions in animals, such as thermoregulation, crypsis through background matching and social interactions. However, the mechanisms underlying reversible colour changes are yet to be thoroughly investigated. This study aims to determine the environmental and hormonal factors underlying morphological colour changes in Thomisus onustus crab spiders and the biochemical metabolites produced during these changes. We quantified the dynamics of colour changes over time: spiders were kept in yellow and white containers under natural light conditions and their colour was measured over 15 days using a spectrophotometer. We also characterised the chemical metabolites of spiders changing to a yellow colour using HPLC. Hormonal control of colour change was investigated by injecting 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) into spiders. We found that background colouration was a major environmental factor responsible for colour change in crab spiders: individuals presented with white and yellow backgrounds changed to white and yellow colours, respectively. An ommochrome precursor, 3-OH-kynurenine, was the main pigment responsible for yellow colour. Spiders injected with 20E displayed a similar rate of change towards yellow colouration as spiders kept in yellow containers and exposed to natural sunlight. This study demonstrates novel hormonal manipulations that are capable of inducing reversible colour change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Llandres
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, UMR CNRS 635, Avenue Monge-Parc Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Florent Figon
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, UMR CNRS 635, Avenue Monge-Parc Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Christidès
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, UMR CNRS 635, Avenue Monge-Parc Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Nicole Mandon
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, UMR CNRS 635, Avenue Monge-Parc Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Jérôme Casas
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université de Tours, UMR CNRS 635, Avenue Monge-Parc Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France
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12
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Trabalon M, Blais C. Juvenile development, ecdysteroids and hemolymph level of metabolites in the spider Brachypelma albopilosum (Theraphosidae). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL GENETICS AND PHYSIOLOGY 2012; 317:236-47. [PMID: 22311802 DOI: 10.1002/jez.1717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Revised: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the present work, juvenile development and physiological state of mygalomorph Brachypelma albopilosum were investigated by means of individual rearing under controlled conditions. Males required 4-5 years for development from first juvenile instar to adulthood, passing through 8 to 12 juvenile molts. Females developed to adults in 5-6 years with a variable juvenile molt number from 9 to 13. The development and growth of males and females took place in a similar way until the last juvenile molt leading to subadults. Ecdysteroids, total lipid, cholesterol, and protein concentrations increased along with the different development instars in both males and females. After the last juvenile molt, spiders presented morphological and biochemical sex differences. Subadult and adulthood males were smaller in size and weight than females; hemolymph levels of ecdysteroids, total lipids, cholesterol, and glucose were higher in males. These physiological and biochemical differences can be correlated to the different sexual development between males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Trabalon
- Department of Biology, Université Rennes 1, UMR-6552 CNRS Ethologie, Rennes, France.
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13
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Olsen CA, Kristensen AS, Strømgaard K. Niedermolekulare Verbindungen aus Spinnen als chemische Sensoren. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201101599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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14
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Olsen CA, Kristensen AS, Strømgaard K. Small molecules from spiders used as chemical probes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:11296-311. [PMID: 22034051 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201101599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Spiders are important species in ecological systems and as major predators of insects they are endowed with a plethora of low-molecular-weight natural products having intriguing biological activities. The isolation and biological characterization of these entities are well established, however, only very recently have these compounds been used as templates for the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of synthetic analogues. In contrast, the investigation of compounds responsible for chemical communication between spiders is far less developed, but recently new light has been shed onto the area of pheromones and allomones from spiders. Herein, we recapitulate these recent results, put them into perspective with previous findings, and provide an outlook for future studies of these chemotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A Olsen
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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15
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Trabalon M, Niogret J, Legrand-Frossi C. Effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on cannibalism, sexual behavior, and contact sex pheromone in the solitary female spider, Tegenaria atrica. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2005; 144:60-6. [PMID: 15955534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2005.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2004] [Revised: 04/15/2005] [Accepted: 04/25/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effect of exogenously administered 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on sexual behavior and on contact sex signals of adult females of the spider Tegenaria atrica. In untreated or control females cannibalism occurred in 36-47% of encounters, whereas no cannibalism at all was observed with 20E-treated females. The frequency of sexual receptivity was low (42%) in untreated or control females and high (100%) in 20E-treated females. Variability of female sexual behavior could be related to quantitative changes in web and cuticular compounds. We showed that 20E altered the production of polar contact sex pheromones on web and cuticle: methylesters and fatty acids are produced in higher amounts in 20E-treated females. Bioassays demonstrated clearly that methylesters and fatty acids of webs and cuticles were involved in attraction of males. Moreover, bioassays with synthetic substances showed that four fatty acids (myristic, pentadecanoic, hexadecanoic, and oleic acids) and one methylester (methyl stearate) are particularly effective in eliciting sexual behavior in males. In T. atrica, 20E inhibits cannibalism during sexual activity and changes sex pheromone production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Trabalon
- Physiologie du Comportement, CEPE, UPR-CNRS 9010, 54506 Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy Cédex, France.
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Abstract
We investigated the role of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on the ovarian maturation and protein levels and pattern in adult females of the spider Tegenaria atrica. In unmated females, the ovaries did not initiate vitellogenesis and levels of proteins in the hemolymph and ovaries were low. Unmated females treated with 20E showed an increase in the total amount of proteins in their hemolymph and ovaries, comparable with that in untreated mated females. Vitellogenesis was observable histologically in 20E treated unmated females as in untreated mated ones. The electrophoretic analysis of total proteins revealed a 47 kDa band expressed in the vitellogenic ovaries and hemolymph of 20E treated unmated females and untreated mated ones as in newly laid eggs. We hypothesize that this 47 kDa protein could belong to the vitellogenin-vitellin complex. We describe in this paper, for the first time in a spider, the partial characterization of putative yolk protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégory Pourié
- Faculté des sciences, Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie du Comportement, B.P. 239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy Cedex, France
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17
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Kalarani V, Reddy DC, Habibi HR, El-Shimy N, Davies RW. Occurrence and hormonal action of ecdysone on gametogenesis and energy utilization in the leechNephelopsis obscura (Erpobdellidae). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1995. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.1402730607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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