title: Neuropathological effect of dimethyl disulfide on neurons of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria.
abstract: Botanical insecticides have introduced a new concept in insecticide research. In response to insect attacks, some plants can release volatile compounds that alter insect metabolism and nervous system activity. In the present study, changes in the electrical activity of chemoreceptors and alteration of the fine structure of metathoracic ganglia of desert locust were examined after acute exposure to dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), a sulfur compound released from Allium porrum. Animals were exposed to 1/4 LC50 of DMDS (0.375 μl/L air) and electrophysiological and electron-microscopical studies were carried out. Application of DMDS showed an increase in the activity of deterrent cells present in tarsal chemosensilla of locust. On the other hand, evident degenerative changes in the neurons, neuroglia, neuropile and synaptic vesicles were observed in the metathoracic ganglia of DMDS-treated animals. These findings revealed that pest control using DMDS might be feasible and future work is highly recommended in this respect.
authors: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt Department of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia amina_essawy@yahoo.com.
authors: Amina E
authors: AE
authors: Essawy
authors: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
authors: Ibrahim A
authors: IA
authors: Gaaboub
authors: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ashraf M
authors: AM
authors: Abdel-Moneim
authors: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: Soad A
authors: SA
authors: El-Sayed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004220:Disulfides; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007306:Insecticides; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D007306:Insecticides; C021181:dimethyl disulfide
keywords: Neuropathology; chemoreceptors; dimethyl disulfide; electrophysiology; locust; thoracic ganglia