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Lactic acid-sensitive receptors on the antennae of the mosquito,Aedes aegypti

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Summary

  1. 1.

    A pair of chemoreceptor neurons sensitive to lactic acid (LA) was identified in the grooved-peg (A3) sensilla on the antennae of the mosquito,Aedes aegypti.

  2. 2.

    One chemoreceptor responded to LA with an increase in spike frequency, whereas the other chemoreceptor exhibited a decrease in spike frequency when presented with LA.

  3. 3.

    CO2, either alone or in combination with LA, elicited no change in spike frequency of either LA-sensitive neuron, indicating that the behavioral synergism of CO2 and LA occurs centrally and not at the primary receptor level.

  4. 4.

    Water vapor induced such a weak excitatory response in both LA-sensitive neurons that their involvement in the detection of water vapor is questioned.

  5. 5.

    The insect repellent, DEET, inhibited both LA-sensitive neurons. DEET plus LA was additive in the LA-inhibited cell, whereas the LA response of the LA-excited cell was attenuated by DEET.

  6. 6.

    The reaction spectra of the LA-sensitive neurons were determined using pure compounds (Table 1).

  7. 7.

    The importance of LA in the host-finding behavior of the mosquito is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurophysiology Program, Stanford Research Institute, 94025, Menlo Park, California, USA

    Edward E. Davis

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 21228, Catonsville, Maryland, USA

    Phillip G. Sokolove

Authors
  1. Edward E. Davis
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  2. Phillip G. Sokolove
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by NIH Research Grant AI 10954.

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Davis, E.E., Sokolove, P.G. Lactic acid-sensitive receptors on the antennae of the mosquito,Aedes aegypti . J. Comp. Physiol. 105, 43–54 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01380052

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01380052

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