Larva Electrophysiology

Barlow, L. A., Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of larvae of the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) to settlement-inducing substances, Bull. Mar. Sci., 46, 537, 1990. 

Electrophysiological experiments to determine the relative abilities of contact chemoreceptors to perceive E, 20E and PoA in larvae of Mamestra brassicae [40], Bombyx mori, Spodoptera littoralis and Ostrinia nubilalis [118], In M brassicae a specific cell is present in the lateral sensilla of the maxilla which responds to 20E and PoA, but not to E. In B. mori, the medial sensilla were responsive to 20E and PoA, but not E. This finding confirmed previous observations [39], Both lateral and medial sensilla were responsive to E, 20E and PoA in O. nubilalis, with a... 

Hadena moths use Silene flowers (Caryophyllaceae) as both nectar sources and as host plants for depositing larvae. The floral scent of Silene latifolia is characterized by the presence of several fatty acid derivatives, benzenoids, and monoterpenoids, while the most abundant compounds are the lilac aldehyde isomers ((2 S, 2 S, 5 S), (2R, 2 S, 5 V), (2S, 2 R, 5 S), and (2R, 2 R, 5 S )) (23), veratrole, and benzyl acetate.93 However, several chemotypes of these dominant components are found in S. latifolia, suggesting variability in attracting pollinators. Wind tunnel experiments have revealed that Hadena bicruris is strongly attracted by lilac aldehyde isomers although the moths respond electrophysiologically to all eight stereoisomers of lilac aldehyde, only four are present in the floral scent.94... 

Electrophysiological evidence indicates that spinosyns can alter nicotinic currents in neuronal cell bodies from CNS of the American cockroach [P. americana (L)j. The effect is correlated with toxicity to neonate Heliothis virescens larvae. It can be su ested that the spinosyns affect nAChR and GABA receptors through a so-called undetermined mecdianism and differ from that of neonicotinoids... 

The use of isolated neurons from insect CNS for electrophysiological studies is a suitable tool to investigate the MoA of new insecticidal compounds that act on a range of neuronal target sites. Therefore, primary neuronal cell cultures from Hdiothis virescens larvae, one of the most important lepidopteran pest species, is one of these suitable tools. 

To obtain conclusive evidence of the interpretation of the results from receptor binding studies, as summarized above, fonctional studies of nicotinic receptors by electrophysiological techniques would be essential. Such studies have mainly been performed with imidacloprid, as it was available first, using established lab model insects such as cockroaches or other non-target insects, lepidopteran larvae, for example (5, 6, 19). Comparable studies with receptors from true target pests (sucking insects) have yet to be performed they are likely hampered by technical difficulties related to their small size. 

Blaney, W. M. (1975) Behavioural and electrophysiological studies of taste discrimination by the maxillary palps of larvae of Locusta migratoria (L.). J- exp, BioL, 62, 555-69. 

Dethier, V. G. (1973) Electrophysiological studies of gustation in lepidopterous larvae. II Taste spectra in relation to food plant discrimination. J. comp. Physiol., 82, 103-34. 

Dethier, V. G. and Kuch, J. H. (1971) Electrophysiological studies of gustation in Lepidopterous larvae. I Comparative sensitivity to sugars, amino acids, and glycosides. Z. vergl. Physiol., 72, 343-63. 

Mitchell, B. K. (1974) Behavioural and electrophysiological investigations on the responses of larvae of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) to amino acids. Ent, exp, appL, 17, 255-64. 

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