Developmental biology of the Brazilian 'Armed' spider Phoneutria nigriventer (Keyserling, 1891): microanatomical and molecular analysis of the embryonic stages.
Phoneutria (Ctenidae) is among the most dangerous venomous spiders in Brazil. Its venom is composed of a mixture of pharmacologically active components, some of which have been quite extensively studied due to their potentiality as models for new pharmaceutical drugs. Nevertheless, literature data on the venom-producing glands are very limited. In the present study, we follow the biological development of intra-cocoon stages of Phoneutria nigriventer spiders, mainly regarding the formation of the venomous apparatus and venom production. The results showed that the venom glands of Phoneutria are already present in the early 1st pre-larva stage. The venomous apparatus is completely formed in the larva, a stage that precedes the spider eclosion from the cocoon. At embryo stages, transcripts of a vertebrate-active neurotoxin (PhTx1) were shown to be present, as well as, unidentified venom proteins that were immunolabeled by anti-venom antibodies. It seems that venom toxins play roles in the protection and survival of those early developmental stages of Phoneutria spiders.
Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Centro de Pesquisas Renè Rachou/Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Luciana Maria
LM
Silva
Consuelo Latorre
CL
Fortes-Dias
Priscila Pereira
PP
Schaffert
Ana Cristina Carvalho
AC
Botelho
Rafael
R
Nacif-Pimenta
Maria Inácia
MI
Estevão-Costa
Marta do Nascimento
Mdo N
Cordeiro
Paulo Filemon
PF
Paolucci Pimenta
D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000378:metabolism*; D013112:Spiders / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology
D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013111:Spider Venoms; C064022:Tx1 neurotoxin