Carbonic anhydrase in the adult mosquito midgut.
We have previously demonstrated the involvement of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in larval mosquito midgut physiology. In this study, we used Hansson's histochemistry to examine the distribution of the enzyme in the midgut of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex nigripalpus, Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles quadrimaculatus adult mosquitoes. Additionally, we quantitated CA content in the anterior and posterior midgut of adult males and females from these species using the 18O isotope exchange method coupled to mass spectrometry. We also tested the effect of CA inhibitors such as methazolamide and acetazolamide in the alkalization of the midgut in females from these species. Our results indicate that CA is present in the midgut of adults from the species studied and that it appears to be preferentially associated with the posterior midgut in both males and females. CA inhibitors appear to have a profound effect on midgut pH indicating that this enzyme might play a key role in the maintenance of this pH.
del Pilar Corena
Maria
M
The Whitney Laboratory, University of Florida, Saint Augustine, FL 32080, USA.
VanEkeris
Leslie
L
Salazar
Ma Isabel
MI
Bowers
Doria
D
Fiedler
Molly M
MM
Silverman
David
D
Tu
Chingkuang
C
Linser
Paul J
PJ
D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000201:enzymology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008704:Methazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D013045:Species Specificity
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases; D000086:Acetazolamide; D008704:Methazolamide