Physiological amino acids of the nervous system of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans

Distribution of taurine and other free amino acids in the visual pathway of the crayfish procambarus clarkii

1. Free taurine showed an in homogenous distribution along the neuropiles associated with the visual processing pathway in the eyestalk and brain of the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii.2. Within the eyestalk, taurine was statistically significant (P < 0.001), more Concentrated in the retina(photo reccptor layer) lamina ganglionaris region than in the medulla extema-medulla interna and medulla terminalis regions; 64% of the total content (45% in terms of total concentration) of taurine in the eyestalk was localized in the retina-lamina ganglionaris zone.3. Regarding other free amino acids also identified, and considering the whole eyestalk, taurine concentration was comparable with those of alanine and glycine, but statistically significantly higher than glutamate, GABA and aspartate. In the brain (cerebroid ganglion) taurine, alanine, glycine, glutamate and GABA concentrations, albeit not identical, were not statistically significantly different; only the aspartate concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.001).4. These results show that taurine is a major constituent in the anterior part of the crayfish central nervous system and support the notion that this free amino acid could play a physiologically important role in the crustacean visual pathway.

Purification of toxic compounds from larvae of the gray fleshfly: the identification of paralysins

Larval haemolymph of Neobellieria bullata (Insecta, Diptera) is highly toxic to adults of the same species: injection causes instant paralysis to death. Referring to their dramatic effect in adult insects the responsible compounds were designated paralysins. Two paralysins, soluble in organic solvents and heat stable, were chromatographically purified to homogeneity. They were identified by use of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance respectively as beta-alanine-tyrosine (beta-Ala-Tyr) and as 3-hydroxy-kynurenine (3-HK). The quantities of beta-Ala-Tyr and 3-HK in the insect appear to increase steadily during larval development, with peak values prior to the pupal stage. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of some aspects of the process of insect metamorphosis. Orienting experiments in mammals suggest that both compounds, when injected intraspinally, are also neurotoxic to rats. In addition, cytotoxicity tests revealed that 3-HK, but not beta-Ala-Tyr is toxic to human neuroblastoma cells, rat primary cortex neurons as well as to rat glial cells.

Some pharmacological properties of the oviduct muscularis of the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans

1. Spontaneous and rhythmic contractions were measured in 80% of the preparations of the stable fly oviduct which were separated from the central nervous system and other tissues. Measurements of the changes in the amplitude and frequency of contractions and changes in the baseline tonus were taken separately, even though they often occurred together during chemical treatments. 2. L-glutamate, at a concentration of 10(-4) to 10(-3) M, caused an increase in the frequency of contractions and in muscle tonus. Contraction frequency showed the highest percentage of change while amplitude and tonus had lower values. 3. The excitation threshold for proctolin on the oviduct was between 10(-13) and 10(-10) M. The initial responses to the peptide showed increases in the amplitude, frequency, and tonus of muscle contractions. However, tonic changes dominated the response profile when the concentration reached 10(-10) or 10(-9) M. In 12 experiments in which the oviduct was exposed to 10(-7) M leucomyosuppressin, no change in the amplitude, frequency, or tonus of muscle contractions was detected. 4. Octopamine caused an inhibition of spontaneous muscle contractions of the oviduct. Spontaneous contractions showed a graded drop in activity over the concentration range tested (10(-8)-10(-6) M). Also 57% of the preparations tested showed a substantial drop in baseline tonus after the addition of octopamine. 5. Stable fly oviducts exposed to extracts from the male reproductive tract showed a noticeable change in the amplitude frequency and tonus of muscle contraction at levels of 2 to 3 equivalents.

Distribution of taurine in the rat cerebellum and insect brain: application of a new antiserum against carbodiimide-conjugated taurine

The production, specificity and application of an antiserum against taurine conjugated to succinylated ovalbumin by means of 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide is reported. The antiserum was produced in rabbits. The carbodiimide was used also as a tissue fixative. The development of the antibody titre was followed by dot-blot tests on nitrocellulose filters using different amino acid conjugates and with immunohistochemical reaction in the rat and insect brain. Blocking controls were also used. Taurine antiserum, sufficiently specific and sensitive, developed after the fourth booster injection, after which the antiserum was characterized. In the insect brain, intense taurine-like immunoreactivity was observed in the photoreceptors, in the Kenyon cells and the neuropile of the mushroom bodies, in the lower part of the central body and in the antennal lobes. In the rat carebellum, intense taurine-like immunoreactivity was seen in the Purkinje cells. Immunoreaction was seen also in small cells most probably corresponding to the basket cells. The use of the carbodiimide in the production of antisera against taurine provides a parallel method for comparison of the distribution of taurine-like immunoreactivity obtained with antisera made against conjugates prepared with aldehydes.

Taurine-like immunoreactivity in the brain of the honeybee

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the insect central nervous system. We have investigated the distribution of taurine-like immunoreactivity in the brain of the honeybee with an antiserum recognizing fixed taurine. Taurine-like immunoreactivity appeared within neuronal perikarya, neurites, and terminals, whereas glial cells were unlabelled. All photoreceptor cells of the compound eyes and the ocelli were stained. So were the fibers of the anterior superior optic tract, which connects the optic lobes to the mushroom bodies in the median protocerebrum. In the mushroom bodies the majority of intrinsic Kenyon cells showed high levels of taurine-like immunoreactivity. The lateral antennoglomerular tract, which interconnects the mushroom bodies with the antennal lobes, was also intensely stained. In the antennal lobes, strong labelling was observed within a few fibers that invade a set of posterior glomeruli from the posterior margin. Sensory projections from the antennal nerve into the antennal lobes showed only intermediate levels of staining. Sensory projections into the dorsal lobe were devoid of taurine-like immunoreactivity. Labral, mandibular, maxillary, and labial nerves, which innervate the various parts of the feeding apparatus, contain a set of five to eight heavily stained fibers. A comparison of taurine-like immunoreactivity with glutamate- and GABA-like immunoreactivities in the brain of the honeybee indicates that the three amino acids are enriched in distinct neuronal populations.