Search results for "attractant"
showing 10 items of 56 documents
Role of nitric oxide in pheromone-mediated intraspecific communication in mice
2009
Nitric oxide is known to take part in the control of sexual and agonistic behaviours. This is usually attributed to its role in neural transmission in the hypothalamus and other structures of the limbic system. However, socio-sexual behaviours in rodents are mainly directed by chemical signals detected by the vomeronasal system, and nitric oxide is abundant in key structures along the vomeronasal pathway. Thus, here we check whether pharmacological treatments interfering with nitrergic transmission could affect socio-sexual behaviour by impairing the processing of chemical signals. Treatment with an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis (Nomega-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, L-N…
Focal Lesions within the ventral striato-pallidum abolish attraction for male chemosignals in female mice
2014
In rodents, socio-sexual behaviour is largely mediated by chemosensory cues, some of which are rewarding stimuli. Female mice display an innate attraction towards male chemosignals, dependent on the vomeronasal system. This behaviour likely reflects the hedonic value of sexual chemosignals. The anteromedial aspect of the olfactory tubercle, along with its associated islands of Calleja, receives vomeronasal inputs and sexually-dimorphic vasopressinergic innervation. Thus, we hypothesised that this portion of the ventral striato-pallidum, known to be involved in reward processing, might be important for sexual odorant-guided behaviours. In this study, we demonstrate that lesions of this regio…
Sexual pheromones and the evolution of the reward system of the brain: the chemosensory function of the amygdala.
2008
The amygdala of all tetrapod vertebrates receives direct projections from the main and accessory olfactory bulbs, and the strong similarities in the organization of these projections suggest that they have undergone a very conservative evolution. However, current ideas about the function of the amygdala do not pay sufficient attention to its chemosensory role, but only view it as the core of the emotional brain. In this study, we propose that both roles of the amygdala are intimately linked since the amygdala is actually involved in mediating emotional responses to chemical signals. The amygdala is the only structure in the brain receiving pheromonal information directly from the accessory …
Ultrastructure of posterior sternal glands of Macrotermes annandalei (Silvestri): new members of the sexual glandular set found in termites (Insecta).
2004
In female alates of Macrotermes annandalei, two types of abdominal glands are involved in the secretion of sex pheromone. Tergal glands are found at the anterior margin of tergites 6-10 and posterior sternal glands (PSGs) are located at the anterior margin of sternites 6-7. The cytological features of both types of glands are quite similar. The fine structural organization of PSGs is studied more precisely and described for the first time. The glandular cuticle is pitted with narrow apertures corresponding to the openings of numerous subcuticular pouches. Several Class 3 glandular units open in each pouch. One canal cell and one secretory cell make an individual glandular unit. The canal ce…
Effectiveness of mass trapping by bottle traps baited with salt sardines to control Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin)
2007
Various substances are known as attractants of tephritid flies; the putrescine and other compounds coming from animal decay have been positively tested for attraction of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) and other tephritids. In Sicilian coastal areas, usually heavily infested by Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), few organic farmers producing high quality olive oil apply mass trapping by using bottle traps baited with salt sardines. The aim of this paper is to test the effectiveness of this kind of mass trapping to control the olive fruit fly. In 2005 and 2006 mass trapping was tested in an organic olive grove (Cerasuola cultivar) located in Trapani. In 2005 two plots were delineated: 189 untreat…
Lesions of the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens medial shell delay the generation of preference for sucrose, but not of sexual phero…
2011
Male sexual pheromones are rewarding stimuli for female mice, able to induce conditioned place preference. To test whether processing these natural reinforcing stimuli depends on the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens, as for other natural rewards, we compare the effects of specific lesions of the dopaminergic innervation of the medial shell of the nucleus accumbens on two different appetitive behaviours, ‘pheromone seeking’ and sucrose preferential intake. Female mice, with no previous experience with either adult male chemical stimuli or with sucrose, received injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (or vehicle) in the medial shell of the accumbens. Then, we analyzed their preferen…
Sensory adaptation of antennae and sex pheromone-mediated flight behavior in male oriental fruit moths (Leptidoptera: Tortricidae) after prolonged ex…
2013
Sensory adaptation has been measured in the antennae of male Grapholita molesta (Busck) after 15 min of exposure to its main pheromone compound (Z)-8-dodecen-1-yl acetate (Z8-12:OAc) at the aerial concentration of 1 ng/m(3) measured in orchards treated with pheromone for mating disruption. Exposing males to this aerial concentration of Z8-12:OAc for 15 min, however, had only a small effect on their ability to orientate by flight to virgin calling females in a flight tunnel. Experiments were undertaken to determine if exposure to the main pheromone compound in combination with the two biologically active minor compounds of this species, (E)-8-dodecen-1-yl acetate (E8-12:OAc) and (Z)-8-dodece…
Prostacyclin inhibits adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to human vascular endothelial cells due to adhesion molecule independent regulatory me…
2002
Prostacyclin is an important endothelial mediator involved in the interaction of neutrophils (PMN) with the vessel wall. Many studies have shown the beneficial effects of prostacyclin in ischemia and reperfusion. However, no previous study has investigated the direct effects of the prostacyclin analogs iloprost (ILO) and alprostadil (PGE(1)) on the endothelial part of the adhesion process. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were grown to confluence, stimulated with 300 U/ml TNF-alpha and treated with increasing concentrations of ILO and PGE(1). The cells were washed to remove TNF and the inhibitors and adhesion of fluorescence-green labeled PMN was determined microscopically. I…
Study of mechanisms of action of an immunotherapy by triacyl lipid A in humans
2013
Immunotherapy acting at the primary tumor site and preventing the development of metastases is one of the strategies for treatment of patients with cancer. To improve the efficiency of the latter, it is necessary to understand how it induces tumor cell death. In the laboratory, it was observed the cure of PROb tumors in rats BDIX by the triacyl lipid A. It has been shown that this effect involved the immune system involving interactions with TLRs present in many tumor cells and innate immunity cells such as neutrophils.In this work, we investigated the possible involvement of neutrophils in the antitumor activity of triacyl lipid A in humans.In a Phase 1 study in patients with refractory so…
The influence of carrot seed oil and its main component carotol on development and behaviour of Aphis fabae aphids
2005
The behaviour of some aphid species is influenced by different plant odours, especially by plant essential oils, which are the mixtures of terpenes. In our study, carrot seed oil and its main sesquiterpenic component - carotol - were examined as factors influencing the behaviour and development of Aphis fabae Scop. The results of the olfaction experiments showed, that especially carrot seed oil exhibited various activities in the dose-dependent manner. When tested in the amount which did not exceed 0.01 mL of 1% v/v of suspension in water, this substance exhibited strong attractancy toward adult females of Aphis fabae. In contrast, if similar tests were carried out using > 0.1 mL of suspens…