title: Filling dynamics of the Brindley's glands in the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).
abstract: The filling dynamics of exocrine defensive glands is an important component of the defensive capacity of an insect in its natural environment. We studied the filling state and reloading rate of the Brindley's glands in the haematophagous Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Quantitative analyses of isobutyric acid, the main secretion component, were carried out with glands dissected from adults under different scenarios of development, number of discharging events and feeding conditions. The alarm-pheromone function of the gland secretion was also assessed in bioassays with conspecific nymphs. Although pharate adults have their glands completely developed, these were not full until imaginal ecdysis. If kept undisturbed, the adults maintained a constant gland load, and discharged about 75% of the gland contents upon one disturbance event. While the glands can be discharged several times, full replenishing was not complete after one week, unless the insect had access to food. The escape behavior of nymphs in bioassays correlated with the chemical analyses, with nymphs showing significant avoidance only toward gland discharges from undisturbed or disturbed/fed adults. The results are discussed in reference to the feeding frequency and gregarious behavior of T. infestans under natural conditions, which suggest a relevant role of the filling dynamics of the Brindley's glands in the intraspecific communication of the insect.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología de Insectos, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IBBEA, CONICET-UBA, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: florpal@bg.fcen.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palottini
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ecología Química, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay. Electronic address: agonzal29@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología de Insectos, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IBBEA, CONICET-UBA, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 C1428EGA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: gabo@bg.fcen.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manrique
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D058610:Isobutyrates / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018978:Molting; D009758:Nymph / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014224:Triatoma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D058610:Isobutyrates; D010675:Pheromones; C020380:isobutyric acid
keywords: Alarm pheromone; Brindley’s glands; Isobutyric acid; Triatoma infestans