Flight response

Decrease blood calcium Increase blood calcium decrease blood phosphate activation of vitamin D 3 "Fight-or-flight" response reinforces effects of the sympathetic nervous system Reabsorption of sodium excretion of potassium... 

Perez-Mendoza, J., Hagstrum, D.W., Dover, B.A., Hopkins, T.L., and Baker, J.E. 1999. Flight response, body weight, and lipid content of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera Bostrichidae) as influenced by strain, season and phenotype. J. Stored Prod. Res. 35, 183-196. 

Known most famously for their part in the fight or flight response to a threat, challenge or anger, adrenaline (epinephrine) and dopamine from the adrenal medulla and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), mainly from neurones in the sympathetic nervous system are known collectively as catecholamines. Synthesis follows a relatively simple pathway starting with tyrosine (Figure 4.7). 

The function of adrenaline is to mobilise all fuels that can be used by muscle to provide ATP to support physical activity in response to stress (i.e. fight or flight response). And to increase sensitivity of regulation of enzymes involved in control of the rate of processes that generate ATP. The biochemical effects in the heart increase cardiac output, in preparation for fight or flight . 

Deer mice, P. maniculatus, on an island (Moresby Island, Gulf Islands, British Columbia) that now lacks their usual predator, the short-tailed weasel, M. erminea, still respond to its odor. However, they only show the more delayed and prolonged stress-type, opioid-sensitive behavior. By contrast, this island population has lost its fear and flight responses, which are benzodiazepine sensitive and more immediate. Mainland deer mice that are sympatric with weasels show both types of response (Kavaliers, 1990). 

In general, the diverse elfects induced by catecholamines serve to mobilize energy resources and prepare the body for immediate action — the fight or flight response. 

Figure 5.2 A close-up of a human eye with a dilated pupil is shown in the photograph above. Dilation of the pupil (mydriasis) occurs in response to release of adrenaline in the body (the fight-or-flight response) or the use of drugs such as amphetamine or marijuana.

Specific chemical substances associated with flight responses have rarely been isolated, but this has apparently not been necessary for the adaptation of this phenomenon to applied problems. As one example, spider crabs in the genus Libinia are a nuisance for lobster fishermen in the northeastern United States because they have little market value, consume bait, and increase the number... 

Semiochemical-mediated flight responses of sap beetle vectors of oak wilt, Ceratocystis fagacearum. J. Chem. Ecol., 28,1527-1547. 

Some of the aggregation pheromones of scolytid beetles also appear to be synthesized with great chiral specificity. The flight response of both sexes of the western pine beetle Dendroctonus brevicomis to (lR,5S,7R)-(+)-exo-brevicomin (XX), host terpenes, and racemic frontal in (XXI) was much greater than the response when the antipode of brevicomin was substituted (160). Similarly, (lS,5R)-(-)-frontalin was a much more powerful attractant than its antipode when tested in admixture with... 

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