Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Insect Neuromuscular System as a Site of Insecticide Action

  • Chapter
Pesticide and Venom Neurotoxicity

Abstract

It has been known for some time that the insect skeletal (somatic) neuromuscular junction is different from vertebrate neuromuscular junction in terms of underlying neurochemistry and therefore responds to a completely different array of compounds. Because of its promise as a model site of action, around which it might be possible to develop selective insecticides, the insect nerve-muscle synapse has attracted considerable interest over the past 12 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson, C. R., Cull-Candy, S. G., and Miledi, R., 1976, Glutamate and quisqualate noise in voltage-clamped locust muscle fibres, Nature 261: 151–153.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, C. F., and Torralba, C. F., 1975, γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate decarboxylase (L-glutamate 1-carboxylase E. C. 4.1.1.1.5) in the nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta amerioana. I. Regional distribution and properties of the enzyme, Brain Res. 84: 383–397.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. E., 1975, Proctolin: a peptide transmitter candidate in insects, Life Sci. 17: 1241–1252.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burrows, M., 1974, Modes of activation of motorneurons controlling ventilatory movements of the locust abdomen, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soo. Lond. B. 269: 29–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burrows, M., 1975, Co-ordinating interneurons of the locust which convey two patterns of motor commands: their connexions with ventilatory motorneurons, J. Exp. Biol. 63: 735–753.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P. S., and Oechslin, A., 1976, Accumulation of glutamic acid in the paragonial gland of Drosophila nigromelanica, J. Insect Physiol. 22: 1237–1243.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, Y. C., Fahmy, M. A. H., and Fukuto, T. R., 1973, Aryl N-hydroxy- and N-methoxy-N-methylcarbamates as potent reversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, Pestio. Bioohem. Physiol. 3: 1–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clements, A. N., and May, T. E., 1974a, Studies on locust neuromuscular physiology in relation to glutamic acid, J. Exp. Biol. 60: 673–705.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clements, A. N., and May, T. E., 1974b, Pharmacological studies on a locust neuromuscular preparation, J. Exp. Biol. 61: 421–442.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cull-Candy, S. G., 1975, Effect of denervation and local damage on extrajunctional L-glutamate receptors in locust muscle, Nature 258: 530–531.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cull-Candy, S. G., Donnellan, J. F., James, R. W., and Lunt, G. G., 1976, 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid as a glutamate antagonist on locust muscle, Nature 262: 408–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daoud, A., and Usherwood, P. N. R., 1975, Action of kainic acid on a glutaminergic synapse, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 52C: 51–53.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dowson, R. J., and Usherwood, P. N. R., 1972, The effect of low concentrations of L-glutamate and L-aspartate on transmitter release at the locust excitatory nerve-muscle synapse, J. Physiol. 229: 13–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowson, R. J., Clements, A. N., and May, T. E., 1975, The action of some Harmala alkaloids on transmission at a glutamate-mediated synapse, Neuropharmacol. 14: 235–240.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P. D., 1975, The uptake of L-glutamate by the central nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, J. Exp. Biol. 62: 55–67.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser Rowell, C. H., and O’Shea, M., 1976, Neuronal basis of a sensory analyser, the acridid movement detector system. III. J. Exp. Biol. 65: 617–625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerschenfeld, H. M., 1973, Chemical transmission in invertebrate central nervous systems and neuromuscular junctions, Physiol. Rev. 53: 1–119.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Granger, N. A., and Sehnal, F., 1974, Regulation of larval corpora allata in Galleria mellonella, Nature 251: 415–417.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holden, J. S., 1974, Glutamic acid and neuromuscular transmission in insects. Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Physiology and Biochemistry, Univ. of Southampton, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • House, C. R., Ginsborg, B. L., and Silinsky, E. M., 1973, Dopamine receptors in cockroach salivary gland cells, Nature, New Biol. 245: 63.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyle, G., 1975, Evidence that insect dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons are octopaminergic, J. Exp. Zool. 193: 425–431.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Irving, S. N., Osborne, M. P., and Wilson, R. G., 1976, Virtual absence of L-glutamate from the haemoplasm of arthropod blood, Nature 263: 431–433.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, G. A. R., 1976, Physiologic pharmacology of GABA and its antagonists in the vertebrate nervous system, in: GABA in Nervous System Function ( E. Roberts, T. N. Chase and D. B. Tower, eds.), pp. 395–411, Raven Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, G. A. R., Stephanson, A. L., and Twitchin, B., 1976, Uptake and release of nipecotic acid by rat brain slices, J. Neurochem. 26: 83–87.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kerkut, G. A., and Walker, R. J., 1966, The effect of L-glutamate, acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid on the miniature end-plate potentials and contractures of the coxal muscles of the cockroach, Periplaneta Americana, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 17: 435–454.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lea, T. J., and Usherwood, P. N. R., 1973, The site of action of ibotenic acid and the identification of two populations of glutamate receptors on insect muscle fibers, Comp. Gen. Pharmacol. 4: 333–350.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, T. J., 1972, Free radical mechanism for phenylhydrazine action on the retractor unguis muscle of the grasshopper, Romalea microptera, Comp. Gen. Pharmacol. 3: 319–326.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, T. J., 1975, Neuromuscular pharmacology in insects, Ann. Rev. Ent. 20: 151–166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, P. L., 1974, Rhythmic activities and the insect nervous system, in: Experimental Analysis of Insect Behavior. pp. 114–138, Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R., Leaf, G., and Usherwood, P. N. R., 1973, Blood glutamate in arthropods, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 44A: 991–996.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, T. A., 1975, Neurosecretion and the control of visceral organs in insects, Ann. Rev. Entomol. 20: 133–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, T. A., 1976, Distinguishing between carbamate and organophosphate insecticide poisoning in house flies by symptomology, Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 6: 307–319.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, T., and Kennedy, J. M., 1972, Flight motor activity of house flies as affected by temperature and insecticides, Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 2: 206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, T., and James, J., 1976, Chemical sensitivity of the hyperneural nerve-muscle preparation of the American cockroach, J. Insect Physiol. 22: 981–988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulloney, B., 1976, Control of flight and related behaviour by the central nervous systems of insects, in: Insect Flight ( R. C. Rainey, ed.), Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdock, L. L., and Koidl, B., 1972a, Limited permeability and metabolism of L-glutamate in the locust gut wall, J. Exp. Biol. 56: 781–794.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdock, L. L., and Koidl, B., 1972b, Blood metabolites after intestinal absorption of amino acids in locusts, J. Exp. Biol. 56: 795–808.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdock, L. L., and Chapman, G. V., 1974, L-glutamate in arthropod blood plasma: physiological implications, J. Exp. Biol. 63: 783–794.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neal, H., 1975a, Effects of L-glutamate and other drugs on some membrane properties of muscle fibers of Diptera, J. Insect Physiol. 21: 1771–1778.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neal, H., 1975b, Neuromuscular junctions and L-glutamate-sensitive sites in the fleshfly, Sarcophaga bullata, J. Insect Physiol. 21: 1945–1951.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oertel, D., and Case, J. F., 1976, Neural excitation of the larval firefly photocyte: slow depolarization possibly mediated by a cyclic nucleotide, J. Exp. Biol. 65: 213–227.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, N. N., and Neuhoff, V., 1974, Amino acid and serotonin content in the nervous system, muscle and blood of the cock-roach, Periplaneta americana, Brain Res. 80: 251–264.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, H. T., and Juorio, A. V., 1976, Octopamine and some related noncatecholic amines in invertebrate nervous systems, Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 19: 173–224.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salpeter, M. M., and Faeder, I. R., 1971, The role of sheath cells in glutamate uptake by insect nerve-muscle preparations, Progr. Brain Res. 34: 103–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sehnal, F., and Granger, N. A., 1975, Control of corpora allata function in larvae of Galleria mellonella, Biol. Bull. 148: 106–116.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shinozaki, H., and Shibuya, I., 1974, A new potent excitant, quisqualic acid: effects on crayfish neuromuscular junction, Neupopharmacol. 13 (7): 665–672.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, T., Greer, M. H., and Griffiths, D. J. G., 1973, Insect neuromuscular synapses, Am. Zool. 13: 315–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Starratt, A. N., and Brown, B. E., 1975, Structure of the pentapeptide proctolin, a proposed neurotransmitter in insects, Life Sci. 17: 1253–1256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, T. M., 1961, Free amino acids in the hemolymph of the American cockroach, Periplaneta amevicana L., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 3: 304–309.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takeuchi, A., and Onodera, K., 1975, Effects of kainic acid on the glutamate receptors of the crayfish muscle, Neuropharmacol. 14: 619–625.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Usherwood, P. N. R., 1974, Nerve-muscle transmission, in: Insect Neurobiology ( J. E. Treherne, ed.), pp. 245–305, Amsterdam, North Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usherwood, P. N. R., and Machili, P., 1968, Pharmacological properties of excitatory neuromuscular synapses in the locust, J. Exp. Biol. 49: 341–361.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Usherwood, P. N. R., and Cull-Candy, S. G., 1975, Pharmacology of somatic nerve-muscle synapses, in: Inseot Muscle ( P. N. R. Usherwood, ed.), Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA

    T. A. Miller

Authors
  1. T. A. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA

    D. L. Shankland

  2. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

    R. M. Hollingworth

  3. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    T. Smyth Jr.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1978 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Miller, T.A. (1978). The Insect Neuromuscular System as a Site of Insecticide Action. In: Shankland, D.L., Hollingworth, R.M., Smyth, T. (eds) Pesticide and Venom Neurotoxicity. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8834-4_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8834-4_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-8836-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-8834-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation