Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wzw2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-09T01:29:34.120Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A neuroendocrine relationship between the nematode Hammerschmidtiella diesingi and its insect host, Blatta orientalis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

R. Gordon
R. Gordon
Affiliation:
Pestology Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Various endocrine operations were performed on the adult female cockroach Blatta orientalis and the adult populations of the nematode Hammerschmidtiella diesingi were recorded 2 or 4 weeks later. Cautery of the median neurosecretory cells (m.n.c.) caused a significant reduction in total numbers of adult nematodes after 2 or 4 weeks; after 2 weeks, removal of the retrocerebral complex (corpora cardiaca plus corpora allata) caused a significant overall reduction in the adult nematode burden and this could not be prevented by reimplanting the corpora allata immediately after the retrocerebral complex had been removed.

Anomalies appeared in the data when the sex of the parasite was examined and this may be related to a possible postembryonic mode of sex determination.

Both m.n.c. cautery and removal of the retrocerebral complex suppressed host terminal oocyte development and ootheca production, whilst reimplantation of corpora allata into ‘retrocerebralectomized’ cockroaches allowed reproductive processes to continue normally. Hence, the m.n.c. and corpora allata are essential for host egg development.

Histological studies showed a profound reduction in fuchsinophilic material in the corpora cardiaca of m.n.c. cauterized cockroaches.

Although the m.n.c. may affect the nematode directly or indirectly, a direct effect on the parasite by the corpora allata is unlikely.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 61 , Issue 1 , August 1970 , pp. 101 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Baylis, H. A. (1944). Observations on the nematode Mermis nigrescens and related species. Parasitology 36, 122–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christie, J. R. (1929). Some observations on sex in the Mermithidae. Journal of Experimental Zoology 53, 59–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cobb, N. A., Steiner, G. & Christie, J. R. (1927). When and how does sex arise? Official Record of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 6, 6.Google Scholar
Davey, K. G. (1964). Neurosecretory cells in a nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides. Canadian Journal of Zoology 42, 731–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davey, K. G. (1966). Neurosecretion and molting in some parasitic nematodes. American Zoologist 6, 243–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davey, K. G. & Kan, S. P. (1967). An endocrine basis for ecdysis in a parasitic nematode. Nature, London 214, 737–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davey, K. G. & Kan, S. P. (1968). Molting in a parasitic nematode, Phocanema decipiens. IV. Ecdysis and its control. Canadian Journal of Zoology 46, 893–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellenby, C. (1954). Environmental determination of the sex ratio of a plant parasitic nematode. Nature, London 174, 1016.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ewen, A. B. (1962). An improved aldehyde fuchsin staining technique for neurosecretory products in insects. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 81, 94–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gersch, M. & Scheffel, H. (1958). Sekretorisch tätige Zellen im Nervensystem von Ascaris. Naturwissenschaften 45, 345–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, R. (1968). Observations on the effect of the neuro-endocrine system of Blatta orientalis L. on the midgut protease activity of the adult female and the level of infestation with the nematode Hammerschmidtiella diesingi (Hammerschmidt, 1838). General and Comparative Endocrinology 11, 284–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, R. (1970). Synthesis and secretion of intestinal digestive enzymes in the adult female oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis, with reference to the neuroendocrine system. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 63, 416–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ishikawa, M. (1961). The secretory phenomenon of the nerve cell of Ascaris. Kiseichugaku Zasshi 10, 1–5. (In Japanese: English summary.)Google Scholar
Lee, D. L. (1959). The biology, morphology and physiology of nematodes parasitic in cockroaches. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
Lusis, O. (1963). The histology and histochemistry of development and resorption in the terminal oocytes of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science 104, 57–68.Google Scholar
Meerovitch, E. (1965). Studies on the in vitro axenic development of Trichinella spiralis. II. Preliminary experiments on the effects of farnesol, cholesterol, and an insect extract. Canadian Journal of Zoology 43, 81–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nadakal, A. M. & Nayar, K. K. (1968). Neural and hormonal influence on the fecundity and egg-laying of certain oxyurid nematodes inhabiting the hind gut of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana L. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 6, 29–32.Google Scholar
Rogers, W. P. (1968). Neurosecretory granules in the infective stage of Haemonchus contortus. Parasitology 58, 657–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rogers, W. P. & Sommerville, R. I. (1968). The infectious process and its relation to the development of early parasitic stages of nematodes. In Advances in Parasitology 6, pp. 327–48. Ed. Dawes, B. E.. London and New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Rothschild, M. & Ford, B. (1966). Hormones of the vertebrate host controlling ovarian regression and copulation of the rabbit flea. Nature, London 211, 261–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomsen, E. & Lea, A. O. (1968). Control of the medial neurosecretory cells by the corpus allatum in Calliphora erythrocephala. General and Comparative Endocrinology 12, 51–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomsen, E. & Möller, I. B. (1959 a). Neurosecretion and intestinal proteinase activity in an insect, Calliphora erythrocephala. Nature, London 183, 1401–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomsen, E. & Möller, I. B. (1959 b). Further studies on the function of the neurosecretory cells of the brain of the adult Calliphora erythrocephala female. In The Ontogeny of Insects. Acta symposii de evolutione insectorum, Praha pp. 121–5.Google Scholar
Thomsen, E. & Möller, I. B. (1963). Influence of the neurosecretory cells and corpus allatum on intestinal proteinase activity in the adult blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala Meig. Journal of Experimental Biology 40, 301–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trudgill, D. L. (1967). The effect of environment on sex determination in Heterodera rostochiensis. Nematologica 13, 263–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Webster, J. M. & Craig, S. (1969). The direct effect of plant and insect hormones on Cephalobus sp. Journal of Nematology 1, 308.Google Scholar