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PubMed2000

Sh and eag K(+) channel subunit interaction in frog oocytes depends on level and time of expression.

Subcellular clustering of ion channels critically affects neuronal function. Coexpression of Eag and Sh channel subunits in Xenopus oocytes leads to accelerated decay of the Sh-like transient K(+) current (Chen, M.-L., T. Hoshi, and C.-F. Wu. 1996. Neuron. 17:535-542). We report that such interaction depends critically on functional expression level (controlled by RNA injection quantities and indicated by current amplitudes) and developmental time after RNA injection. The accelerated decay became apparent 3 days after coinjection and increased thereafter. This was observed in different ionic conditions and at different voltage steps. However, decay was not accelerated at low expression levels, either within 1-2 days after injection or with reduced amounts of RNA. With sequential RNA injection, preformation of either Eag or Sh channels prevented interactions with the other subunit. The carboxyl terminus of Eag was found to be involved in accelerating, and in retarding recovery from, N-type inactivation. The interaction was reduced upon patch excision in macropatch measurements, suggesting involvement of cytosolic factors. We have reproduced the absence of interaction between Eag and Sh reported previously within 2 days after RNA injection and with low levels of current expression (Tang, C.-Y., C. T. Schulteis, R. M. Jiménez, and D. M. Papazian. 1998. Biophys. J. 75:1263-1270). Our findings demonstrate that heterologous expression of channels in Xenopus oocytes is a dynamic process influenced by cell physiology and development. These factors must be considered in interpreting the functional properties of heterologously expressed channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Embryonic development in culture of two dasyurid marsupials, Sminthopsis crassicaudata (Gould) and Sminthopsis macroura (Spencer), during cleavage and blastocyst formation.

Embryos of Sminthopsis crassicaudata and Sminthopsis macroura were cultured for up to 96 hours during cleavage and early expansion of the blastocyst in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEG), DMEG containing 2.76 gm/liter sodium lactate (DMEGL), DMEG containing 3.5 gm/liter galactose (DMEGAL), DMEG containing 15 ng/ml progesterone (DMEGP) or 150 ng/ml progesterone (DMEGP10), and DMEGL containing 15 ng/ml progesterone (DMEGLP). The disappearance of sperm was used to indicate the time of ovulation (day 0). Fertilized eggs were found in the uterus at the end of day 1, four-cell stages at the end of day 2, and embryos completing the fourth division by the end of day 3 in S. macroura and day 4 in S. crassicaudata. Estimated developmental times in culture were similar to those obtained in vivo. In both species, the first two divisions take about 24 hours, cleavage is arrested for 24 hours or longer at the rounded four-cell stage, and the third and fourth divisions take a further 24 hours. The blastocyst expands during the next 24 hours in which time the fifth and sixth divisions occur. It was possible to culture embryos from S. macroura but not S. crassicaudata over the four-cell stage to early expanding blastocysts. DMEGAL did not support cleavage in culture. DMEG, DMEGL, DMEGP, DMEGP10, and DMEGLP all supported culture during cleavage and early blastocyst expansion. Blastocyst expansion was slightly enhanced using media containing sodium lactate. More embryos completed the fifth division and formed expanding blastocysts in DMEG, DMEGL, and DMEGLP.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Signaling events regulating the neurodevelopmental triad. Glutamate and secreted forms of beta-amyloid precursor protein as examples.

During development of the nervous system a common set of signal transduction pathways appear to regulate growth cone behaviors, synaptogenesis and natural cell death, three fundamental processes that comprise the "neurodevelopmental triad". Among the intercellular signals that coordinate the developmental triad in the mammalian brain are glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter) and beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP). Localization of ionotropic glutamate receptors to dendritic compartments allows for selective regulation of dendrite growth cones and spine formation by glutamate released from axonal growth cones and presynaptic terminals. Expression of particular subtypes of glutamate receptors peaks during a developmental time window within which synaptogenesis and natural neuronal death occur. Calcium is the preeminent second messenger mediating both acute (rapid remodelling of the microtubule and actin cytoskeletal systems) and delayed (transcriptional regulation of growth-related proteins; e.g., neurotrophins) actions of glutamate. The expression of beta APP in brain is developmentally regulated and it is expressed ubiquitously in differentiated neurons. beta APP is axonally transported and secreted forms of beta APP (sAPPs) are released from neurons in an activity-driven manner. Secreted APPs modulate neuronal excitability, counteract effects of glutamate on growth cone behaviors, and increase synaptic complexity. Acute actions of sAPPs appear to be transduced by cyclic GMP which promotes activation of K+ channels and reduces [Ca2+]i. Delayed actions of sAPPs may involve regulation of gene expression by the transcription factor NF kappa B. Finally, the striking effects of glutamate, neurotrophic factors, and sAPPs on synaptogenesis and neuronal survival in cell culture systems and in vivo suggest that each of these signals plays major roles in the process of natural cell death. The same signalling mechanisms that mediate adapative regulation of neuroarchitecture during brain development appear to play prominent roles in maladaptive neurodegenerative processes in an array of disorders ranging from stroke to epilepsy to Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed2000

Single-fiber myosin heavy chain polymorphism during postnatal development: modulation by hypothyroidism.

The primary objective of this study was to follow the developmental time course of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform transitions in single fibers of the rodent plantaris muscle. Hypothyroidism was used in conjunction with single-fiber analyses to better describe a possible linkage between the neonatal and fast type IIB MHC isoforms during development. In contrast to the general concept that developmental MHC isoform transitions give rise to muscle fibers that express only a single MHC isoform, the single-fiber analyses revealed a very high degree of MHC polymorphism throughout postnatal development. In the adult state, MHC polymorphism was so pervasive that the rodent plantaris muscles contained approximately 12-15 different pools of fibers (i.e., fiber types). The degree of polymorphism observed at the single-fiber level made it difficult to determine specific developmental schemes analogous to those observed previously for the rodent soleus muscle. However, hypothyroidism was useful in that it confirmed a possible link between the developmental regulation of the neonatal and fast type IIB MHC isoforms.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Postnatal differentiation of Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa, with special reference to the timing of peripheral nerve development and the potency of cell mitosis.

The origin and mechanism of the differentiation and proliferation of Merkel cells are enigmatic. A preliminary study in our laboratory showed that Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa emerge after birth. This is in contrast to the case of similar cells in the skin that differentiate during the embryonic period prior to the establishment of peripheral nerve innervation. We studied immunohistochemically the developmental timings of Merkel cells and peripheral nerves in the rat palatine mucosa using antibodies to cytokeratins 18 and 20, PGP 9.5, and CGRP using developing palates of prenatal and postnatal rats. We also studied the potency of mitosis in Merkel cells by immunohistochemistry using antibodies for a cell proliferation marker Ki67 and cyclin D-kinase inhibitors p16, p21 and p27. It was shown that Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa differentiate postnatally, after the development of peripheral nerve fiber terminals was almost established. The emergence and increase in number of Merkel cells progressed in an anterior-to-posterior wave. Newly appearing Merkel cells were usually negative for anti-cytokeratin 20 antibody but gained affinity for the antibody with progress of maturation. All Merkel cells in the palatine mucosa were negative for anti-Ki67 antibody but positive for anti-p27 antibody. These results indicate that Merkel cells in the rat palatine mucosa are not responsible for the development of peripheral nerve fiber terminals and that these cells differentiate in situ from intraepithelial stem cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Alcohol teratogenesis: mechanisms of damage and strategies for intervention.

There are multiple mechanisms by which alcohol can damage the developing brain, but the type of damage induced will depend on the amount and developmental timing of exposure, along with other maternal and genetic factors. This article reviews current perspectives on how ethanol can produce neuroteratogenic effects by its interactions with molecular regulators of brain development. The current evidence suggests that alcohol produces many of its damaging effects by exerting specific actions on molecules that regulate key developmental processes (e.g., L1 cell adhesion molecule, alcohol dehydrogenase, catalase), interfering with the early development of midline serotonergic neurons and disrupting their regulatory-signaling function for other target brain structures, interfering with trophic factors that regulate neurogenesis and cell survival, or inducing excessive cell death via oxidative stress or activation of caspase-3 proteases. The current understanding of pathogenesis mechanisms suggests several strategic approaches to develop rational molecular prevention. However, the development of behavioral and biologic treatments for alcohol-affected children is crucial because it is unlikely that effective delivery of preventative interventions can realistically be achieved in ways to prevent prenatal damage in at-risk pregnancies. Toward that end, behavioral training that promotes experience-dependent neuroplasticity has been effective in a rat model of cerebellar damage induced by alcohol exposure during the period of brain development that is comparable to that of the human third trimester.

Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System↗
PubMed1990

Autonomous developmental control of human embryonic globin gene switching in transgenic mice.

The mechanisms by which expression of the beta-like globin genes are developmentally regulated are under intense investigation. The temporal control of human embryonic (epsilon) globin expression was analyzed. A 3.7-kilobase (kb) fragment that contained the entire human epsilon-globin gene was linked to a 2.5-kb cassette of the locus control region (LCR), and the developmental time of expression of this construct was studied in transgenic mice. The human epsilon-globin transgene was expressed in yolk sac-derived primitive erythroid cells, but not in fetal liver or bone marrow-derived definitive erythroid cells. The absence of epsilon gene expression in definitive erythroid cells suggests that the developmental regulation of the epsilon-globin gene depends only on the presence of the LCR and the epsilon-globin gene itself (that is, an autonomous negative control mechanism). The autonomy of epsilon-globin gene developmental control distinguishes it from the competitive mechanism of regulation of gamma and beta-globin genes, and therefore, suggests that at least two distinct mechanisms function in human hemoglobin switching.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Spatiotemporal organization of simple-cell receptive fields in the cat's striate cortex. I. General characteristics and postnatal development.

1. Most studies of cortical neurons have focused on the spatial structure of receptive fields. For a more complete functional description of these neurons, it is necessary to consider receptive-field structure in the joint domain of space and time. We have studied the spatiotemporal receptive-field structure of 233 simple cells recorded from the striate cortex of adult cats and kittens at 4 and 8 wk postnatal. The dual goal of this study is to provide a detailed quantitative description of spatiotemporal receptive-field structure and to compare the developmental time courses of spatial and temporal response properties. 2. Spatiotemporal receptive-field profiles have been measured with the use of a reverse correlation method, in which we compute the cross-correlation between a neuron's response and a random sequence of small, briefly presented bright and dark stimuli. The receptive-field profiles of some simple cells are space-time separable, meaning that spatial and temporal response characteristics can be dissociated. Other cells have receptive-field profiles that are space-time inseparable. In these cases, a particular spatial location cannot be designated, unambiguously, as belonging to either an on or off subregion. However, separate on and off subregions may be clearly distinguished in the joint space-time domain. These subregions are generally tilted along an oblique axis. 3. Our observations show that spatial and temporal aspects of receptive-field structure mature with clearly different time courses. By 4 wk postnatal, the spatial symmetry and periodicity of simple-cell receptive fields have reached maturity. The spatial extent (or size) of these receptive fields is adult-like by 8 wk postnatal. In contrast, the response latency and time duration of spatiotemporal receptive fields do not mature until well beyond 8 wk postnatal. 4. By applying Fourier analysis to spatiotemporal receptive-field profiles, we have examined the postnatal development of spatial and temporal selectivity in the frequency domain. By 8 wk postnatal, spatial frequency tuning has clearly reached maturity. On the contrary, temporal frequency selectivity remains markedly immature at 8 wk. We have also examined the joint distribution of optimal spatial and temporal frequencies. From 4 wk postnatal until 8 wk postnatal, the range of optimal spatial frequencies increases substantially, whereas the range of optimal temporal frequencies remains largely unchanged. From 8 wk postnatal until adulthood, there is a large increase in optimal temporal frequencies for cells tuned to low spatial frequencies. For cells tuned to high spatial frequencies, the distribution of optimal temporal frequencies does not change much beyond 8 wk postnatal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of neuroplastin and synaptic marker protein expression in acute and cultured organotypic hippocampal slices from rat.

Organotypic hippocampal slice cultures can be used to study hippocampal biochemistry and physiology over a chronic period on the days to weeks timescale. In order to validate the organotypic hippocampal slice culture for our ongoing studies of synaptic function, we have compared, using Western blotting, the levels of a number of synaptic proteins from in vitro organotypic hippocampal slice cultures with those from in vivo hippocampal slices prepared from age-matched controls. We chose to follow the developmental expression of the neuroplastin (np) family of immunoglobulin related cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), np65, a brain specific isoform highly expressed in hippocampal neurones and np55 a more widely expressed isoform and two synaptic marker proteins, synaptophysin, a pre-synaptic marker and post-synaptic density protein-95, PSD95, a post-synaptic marker. All showed increasing expression over the developmental time period, both in vivo and in vitro. The level of both neuroplastins was also consistent between the in vivo and in vitro preparations, whereas the level of PSD95 was markedly increased in the organotypic hippocampal slice cultures while the level of synaptophysin was slightly decreased. Whilst these findings may indicate some differences in the composition and organisation of synapses, the developmental expression profiles of these synaptic proteins within organotypic hippocampal slice cultures suggests they are a valid model for the study of synapse function and development in vitro.

Aging↗
PubMed1976

Group selections among laboratory populations of Tribolium.

Selection at the population level or group selection is defined as genetic change that is brought about or maintained by the differential extinction and/or proliferation of populations. Group selection for both increased and decreased adult population size was carried out among laboratory populations of Tribolium castaneum at 37-day intervals. The effect of individual selection within populations on adult population size was evaluated in an additional control series of populations. The response in the group selection treatments occurred rapidly, within three or four generations, and was large in magnitude, at times differing from the controls by over 200%. This response to selection at the populational level occurred despite strong individual selection which caused a decline in the mean size of the control populations from over 200 adults to near 50 adults in nine 37-day intervals. "Assay" experiments indicated that selective changes in fecundity, developmental time, body weight, and cannibalism rates were responsible in part for the observed treatment differences in adult population size. These findings have implications in terms of speciation in organisms whose range is composed of many partially isolated local populations.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Effect of temperature on cat flea (Siphonaptera:Pulicidae) development and overwintering.

Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), were reared at different temperatures to examine further the effects on egg-to-adult development and emergence of adults from cocoons. Three different temperatures (26.7, 21.1, and 15.5 degrees C) were used to rear fleas. Emergence of adults from cocoons was monitored using 2 experimental designs-cocoons maintained in groups and cocoons individually isolated. At cooler temperatures, cocoons kept in groups had a higher incidence of late-emerging adults than did individual cocoons. At 15.5 degrees C, adults continued to emerge from grouped cocoons up to 80 d after all had emerged from individual cocoons. Developmental time of prepupae and pupae was determined by inhibiting cocoon formation of late 3rd instars. Male prepupae and pupae developed approximately 20% slower than did females. Comparisons between emergence of adults from cocoons and from naked pupae indicate that a large percentage of adults emerge from cocoons soon after molting. The possible association of developmental temperatures and emergence from cocoons with overwintering populations is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Quantitative trait loci for inflorescence development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Variation in inflorescence development patterns is a central factor in the evolutionary ecology of plants. The genetic architectures of 13 traits associated with inflorescence developmental timing, architecture, rosette morphology, and fitness were investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant system. There is substantial naturally occurring genetic variation for inflorescence development traits, with broad sense heritabilities computed from 21 Arabidopsis ecotypes ranging from 0.134 to 0.772. Genetic correlations are significant for most (64/78) pairs of traits, suggesting either pleiotropy or tight linkage among loci. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping indicates 47 and 63 QTL for inflorescence developmental traits in Ler x Col and Cvi x Ler recombinant inbred mapping populations, respectively. Several QTL associated with different developmental traits map to the same Arabidopsis chromosomal regions, in agreement with the strong genetic correlations observed. Epistasis among QTL was observed only in the Cvi x Ler population, and only between regions on chromosomes 1 and 5. Examination of the completed Arabidopsis genome sequence in three QTL regions revealed between 375 and 783 genes per region. Previously identified flowering time, inflorescence architecture, floral meristem identity, and hormone signaling genes represent some of the many candidate genes in these regions.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1979

Photoaffinity labeling of cyclic-AMP- and AMP-binding proteins differentiating Dictyostelium discoideum cells.

Cyclic-AMP-binding proteins play important roles during the differentiation of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. The photoaffinity reagent 8-N3-cyclic [32P]AMP has been used to label developmentally regulated cyclic-AMP-binding proteins of intact cells, membranes, and cytoplasm. 8-N3-Cyclic AMP is a chemoattractant for differentiated D. discoideum cells and is a substrate for the membrane phosphodiesterase (mPDE). When mPDE is inhibited, the only specifically labeled protein on intact cells has a molecular weight of 40,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. The developmental time course of appearance of this protein and its high specificity for cyclic AMP identify it as the cell surface chemotactic receptor for cyclic AMP. The concentration dependence of labeling of this protein is consistent with the measured chemotactic potency of 8-N3-cyclic AMP, which is about 1/100th that of cyclic AMP. Three developmentally regulated proteins (Mr 26,000, 33,000, and 36,000) of the soluble fraction (cytoplasm) are labeled by the photoaffinity reagent and are specific for cyclic AMP. By analogy with other systems, these may be regulatory subunits of protein kinases. The mPDE of ghosts or plasma membrane fractions converts the reagent to 8-N3-[32P]AMP, which specifically photoaffinity labels a protein of Mr 42,000 associated with the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1981

Development of sodium, calcium and potassium channels in the cleavage-arrested embryo of an ascidian.

1. The cleavage of the embryos of an ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi, was arrested with cytochalasin B (1 microgram/ml.) at the 16- or 64-cell stage. These cleavage-arrested embryos were still able to develop membrane excitability. 2. In the cleavage-arrested 64-cell embryos at the time when control embryos became hatched larvae, Ca spikes were evoked in the presumptive muscle blastomeres, and Na- and Ca-dependent action potentials were induced in some ectodermal blastomeres. 3. Membrane currents of the cleavage-arrested 16-cell embryos were recorded with the voltage-clamp technique and analysed as a function of developmental time at 15 degrees C. For this purpose, intact eggs, 4- and 8-cell embryos were also used. The cleavage-arrested embryos behaved electrically like single cells, due to tight electrical coupling between blastomeres. After the 25-hr stage decoupling occurred. 4. Both Na and Ca currents decreased during the initial 10 hr. Na current became less than one third and Ca current almost disappeared. At 17 hr both Na and Ca currents increased again. 5. The potential-dependence of the Na and Ca currents after 17 hr was similar to that in the egg, although substantial parallel shifts in the current-voltage relations were observed: a 5 mV positive shift for the Na current and a 15-20 mV negative shift for the Ca current. 6. Delayed (outward) K current developed gradually until 20 hr and then increased abruptly. The activation level for the delayed rectification was markedly negative (around -10 mV) in comparison with that of the egg (around + 100 mV). Anomalous (inward) K current, on the other hand, increased gradually without changes in the potential-dependence throughout development. 7. The results suggest that the differentiation of excitable membranes in the ascidian embryo does not involve changes in the properties of the individual channels, but rather changes in the numbers of various kinds of ion channels.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2000

Uptake, toxicity, and effects on detoxication enzymes of atrazine and trifluoroacetate in embryos of zebrafish.

The uptake, toxicity, and elimination of atrazine and trifluoroacetate (TFA) were studied in early life stages of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Furthermore, the effects of these xenobiotics on soluble (s) and microsomal (m) glutathione S-transferases (GST) of zebrafish embryos were investigated using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB), and [(14)C]atrazine. [(14)C]Atrazine was taken up by the embryos within seconds, unhindered by the chorions. It accumulated in the embryos by a factor of 19 after 24 h of exposure time. LC(50) (48 h) was determined at 36.8 mg/L. At a level of 5 mg/L atrazine, activities of s and m GSTs were elevated in most stages, especially in prim 6 and long pec stage (24, 48 h after fertilization, respectively). GST activity toward atrazine was detectable only in untreated D. rerio eggs, increasing with developmental time. [(14)C]Atrazine was eliminated from the embryos between 24 and 48 h, indicating a possible metabolism to a more hydrophilic GSH conjugate. [(14)C]TFA was taken up by embryos, reaching at maximum fivefold the concentration of the incubation medium after 10 h. The chorions served no physiological protection. TFA (1 g/L) caused low elevation of the GST activity. No acute toxic effects (48 h) were observed up to 4 g/L TFA.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Pathological effects of Blastocrithidia triatomae (Trypanosomatidae) on the reduviid bug Triatoma infestans after infection by membrane feeding and long-term starvation.

Developmental time and mortality in larvae of the reduviid bug Triatoma infestans were studied in uninfected groups and in those infected with Blastocrithidia triatomnae by in vitro feeding with 10(4) cyst stages/cm(3) blood. Bugs were subsequently subjected to two different starvation periods. In bugs fed at weekly intervals infection with B. triatomae was associated with developmental retardation, increasing in the final instars, and with increased mortality in the third and preadult instar. Compared to these groups, long-term starvation caused slightly lower mortality rates of uninfected groups and in infected bugs a remarkably higher mortality rate in the preadult instar. Total mortality rates of infected groups were nearly unaffected by starvation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of cell-free protein-synthesis systems from undeveloped and developing Artemia embryos.

We have developed and characterized translationally active cell-free systems from Artemia embryos at different developmental times. The optimized lysates from 16 h-developed embryos incorporated radiolabelled amino acids into polypeptides for up to 120 min. The polypeptides synthesized ranged in Mr from 150,000 to 10,000, suggesting that the endogenous mRNA was capable of directing the synthesis of complete polypeptides. Similar results were obtained by using lysates from early developmental stages; even the cell-free system prepared from 1 h-developed embryos was partially active in protein synthesis. Furthermore, all these lysates were capable of re-initiation, as demonstrated by inhibition of initiation with the inhibitors edeine and 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate. Because we found no endogenous protein-synthetic activity in the corresponding lysates from undeveloped embryos, we have used cell-free translation systems from 0 h- and 16 h-developed Artemia embryos to analyse the mechanisms limiting protein synthesis at very early developmental stages. Undeveloped-embryo lysates supplemented with nuclease-treated reticulocyte lysate were capable of translating endogenous mRNAs to give products with a wide spectrum of Mr values, but lysates of 16 h-developed embryos supplemented in this way were not further stimulated. The nuclease-treated lysate appeared to be unnecessary 5 h after resumption of development. These results suggested that a component(s) limiting translation in the undeveloped-embryo lysate was provided by the nuclease-treated reticulocyte lysate, and that this component(s) no longer limited protein synthesis after development. In view of these results, partially fractionated reticulocyte lysates were tested for restoration of protein-synthetic activity in the undeveloped embryo lysate. A high-salt ribosomal wash devoid of ribosomal subunits, which is considered a crude polypeptide-initiation-factor preparation, also restored translation activity in the undeveloped embryo lysate and made it capable of directing the synthesis of both endogenous mRNAs and exogenous (globin) mRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Pathological effects of Blastocrithidia triatomae (Trypanosomatidae) on the reduviid bugs Triatoma sordida, T. pallidipennis and Dipetalogaster maxima after coprophagic infection.

Developmental time and mortality in nymphs of the reduviid bugs Triatoma sordida (Stål), Triatoma pallidipennis (Stål) and Dipetalogaster maxima (Uhler) were studied in uninfected groups and in those infected with Blastocrithidia triatomae Cerisola et al. (Trypanosomatidae). In T.sordida and T.pallidipennis, major vectors of Chagas' disease in Brazil and Mexico respectively, infection with B.triatomae was associated with slight developmental retardations in the final instars, and increased mortality in the pre-adult instar. These effects were less evident in T.pallidipennis, but in this species a total infection rate of only 5-15% was achieved, compared with about 45% in T.sordida. In contrast, D.maxima was strongly affected by B.triatomae: nymphal development was retarded and complete mortality occurred in some groups exposed to infection, although not all bugs were infected.

Animals↗