Entomological Science (1999) 2, 449-456

Seiji Tanaka, Eishi Hasegawa, Masakazu Takahashi, Masami Nishina and Kazuhiro Matsushita (1999)
The role of trehalose in lipid mobilization of Locusta migratoria: Effects of a trehalase inhibitor, validoxylamine A, on flight activity and hemolymph trehalose and lipid concentrations
Entomological Science 2 (4), 449-456
Abstract: The role of trehalose in lipid mobilization during flight was examined using a trehalase inhibitor, validoxylamine A (VAA), in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. VAA induced a significant increase in hemolymph trehalose concentrations within 12 h of the administration in resting locusts. A maximum level was reached 4 days after VAA injection, and relatively high levels were maintained for 16 days. The hemolymph lipid concentration was also increased after VAA injection, and a maximum level was attained in 1 day. When locusts injected with VAA or water 1 day before the experiment were tethered for 1 h, no significant difference was found in time spent flying during this period between the VAA-injected and water-injected groups, indicating that VAA did not influence flight activity. In water-injected controls, the trehalose concentration decreased and lipid concentration increased after a 1-h tethering trial. These changes suggest the occurrence of a switch-over from carbohydrate to lipid utilization during flight, as often reported by others. In VAA-injected locusts, on the other hand, both trehalose and lipid concentrations remained at high levels irrespective of the flight duration. These results suggest that there is no direct relationship between trehalose and lipid concentrations in the hemolymph, and that locusts may not monitor the hemolymph trehalose level for lipid mobilization in VAA-injected locusts.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Seiji Tanaka

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Locusta migratoria