Abstract
The uptake of selected steroids and norsesquiterpenes by live minnows,Pimephales promelas, was studied when the compounds were administered externally in aqueous solution. The gills of minnows absorbed 80% of the steroid removed from solution. Steroid absorption across minnow gills is apparently a nonmediated process as rate saturation could not be demonstrated. Initial absorption rates of test compounds were inversely correlated with (1) the degree of oxygenation, (2) water solubility, and (3) polarity on silica gel thin-layer chromatography. These findings support the Stein model of non-mediated transport. The majority of compounds anesthetic and toxic to minnows exerted their effects at a similar internal concentration. Anesthesia occurred at ca. 10−6–10−5 M and death at 10−4–10−3 M. Since various agents causing membrane stabilization and lysis in in vitro systems act in an identical concentration range, it is proposed that the defensive steroids and norsesquiterpenes of water beetles act via membrane stabilization and lysis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benfield, E. 1972. A defensive secretion ofDineutus discolor (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae),Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 65:1324–1427.
Blunck, H. 1917. Die Schreckdrüsen des Dytiscus and ihr Secret. Zweiter und Letzter Teil.Z. Wiss. Zool. 117:205–256.
Figdor, S., Kidet, M., Bloom, B., Agnello, E., Pán, S., andLaubach, G. 1957. Central activity and structure in a series of water-soluble steroids.J. Pharmacol. 199:299–309.
Garcia, J., Hankins, W., andRusiniak, K. 1974. Behavioral regulation of the milieu interne in rat and man.Science 185:824–831.
Kappas, A. andPalmer, R. 1963. Selected aspects of steroid pharmacology.Pharmacol. Rev. 15:123–167.
Kotyk, A. andJanacek, K. 1970.Cell Membrane Transport, Principles and Techniques. Plenum Press, New York.
Lagler, K., Bardach, J., andMiller, R. 1962.Ichthyology: The Study of Fishes. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York.
Lieb, W. andStein, W. 1971. The molecular basis of simple diffusion within biological membranes, pp. 1–39,in F. Bronner and A. Kelinzeller (eds.)Current Topics in Membranes and Transport. Academic Press, New York.
Miller, J. 1975. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
Miller, J., Hendry, L., andMumma, R. 1975. Norsesquiterpenes as defensive toxins of whirligig beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 1:59–82.
Miller, J. andMumma, R. 1976. Physiological activity of water beetle defensive agents. I. Toxicity and anesthetic activity of steroids and norsesquiterpenes administered in solution to the minnowPimphales promelas Raf.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:115–130.
Rothblat, G., Hartzell, R., Mailhe, M., andKrichevsky, D. 1966. The uptake of cholesterol by L5178Y tissue-culture cells: Studies with free cholesterol.Biochim. Biophys. Acta 166:133–145.
Seeman, P. 1966. Membrane stabilization by drugs: Tranquilizers, steroids and anesthetics.Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 9:145–221.
Seeman, P. 1969. Membrane expansion and stabilization by anesthetics and other drugs, pp. 40–56,in L. Bolis, A. Katchalsky, R. Keynes, W. Lowenstein, and B. Pethica (eds.),Permeability and Function of Biological Membranes, Proceedings of the 1969 Meeting of the International Conference on Biological Membranes. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam.
Selye, H. andHeard, R. 1943. The fish assay for the anesthetic effect of the steroids.Anesthesiology 4:36–47.
Slaunwhite, W., Rosenthal, H., andSandberg, A. 1963. Interactions of steroids with human plasma proteins.Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 100:486–492.
Stahl, E. (ed.). 1969.Thin-layer Chromatography, A Laboratory Handbook. Springer-Verlag, Inc., New York.
Stein, W. 1967.The Movement of Molecules across Cell Membranes. Academic Press, New York.
Weatherston, J. andPercy, J. 1970. Arthropod defensive secretions, pp. 95–144,in M. Beroza (ed.)Chemicals Controlling Insect Behavior. Academic Press, New York.
Weissman, G. 1955. Studies on lysosomes. VI. The effects of neutral steroids and bile acids on lysosomesin vitro.Biochem. Pharmacol. 14:525–535.
Weissman, G. andKeiser, H. 1965. Hemolysis and augmentation of hemolysis by neutral steroids and bile acids.Biochem. Pharmacol. 14:537–546.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Miller, J.R., Mumma, R.O. Physiological activity of water beetle defensive agents. II. Absorption of selected anesthetic steroids and norsesquiterpenes across gill membranes of the minnowPimephales promelas Raf.. J Chem Ecol 2, 131–146 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987737
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987737