title: Effect of channel blockers on the smooth muscle of the adult crop of the queen blowfly, Phormia regina.
abstract: Few studies have examined the various factors affecting the rate of contraction of the supercontractile muscles of the crop lobes of adult Phormia regina Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Using an in situ bioassay of the crop organ, various ion channel blockers were tested and it was demonstrated that in all cases the blockers (i.e., against the following conductances: Cl⁻, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, and a FMRF-amide action) significantly reduced the contraction rates of the crop lobes, which were filled with 4.5 µL of 1.0 M sucrose containing 10 mM of the dye amaranth. Benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, never before reported for its effect on insect muscle, was as effective in suppressing crop muscle contraction as benzethonium chloride, which is a reported agonist of dromyosuppressin.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stoffolano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Danai
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001558:Benzethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D001681:Biological Assay; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D049990:Membrane Transport Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D007473:Ion Channels; D049990:Membrane Transport Modulators; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C000168:benzyltrimethylammonium; D001558:Benzethonium; C010030:9-anthroic acid; D000584:Amiloride