Oral secretion elicited by effectors of signal transduction pathways in the salivary glands of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 29; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Authors: McSwain, J.L. (Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK), Essenberg, R.C, Sauer, J.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.1992
• Subjects: AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM; Animals; Diglycerides - pharmacology; Dopamine - pharmacology; ESTIMULANTES; Female; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacology; GLANDE SALIVAIRE; GLANDULAS SALIVALES; MEDICAMENT; MEDICAMENTOS; NEUROFISIOLOGIA; NEUROPHYSIOLOGIE; PEPTIDE; PEPTIDOS; Pilocarpine - pharmacology; PRODUCTOS QUIMICOS; PRODUIT CHIMIQUE; PROTEINA QUINASA; PROTEINE KINASE; SALIVA; Salivary Glands - drug effects; Salivary Glands - metabolism; SALIVE; Signal Transduction - drug effects; STIMULANT; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Theophylline - pharmacology; Ticks - physiology
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/29.1.41

The abilities of various effectors of signal pathways in tick salivary glands to stimulate oral secretions in partially fed Amblyomma americanum (L.) female ticks were compared. Pilocarpine stimulated secretion the most rapidly following tick stimulation, but its effectiveness declined with time and subsequent injections, Secretion rates induced by dopamine and theophylline increased with time of collection and additional injections and were as effective as pilocarpine after 60 min. Activators of protein kinase C, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol inhibited dopamine, and theophylline stimulated secretion. gamma-amino-butyric acid either by it self or in combination with other drugs had no effect on volume of oral secretions. Peptides were visible in the oral secretion stimulated by the various drugs after separation and staining in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. More peptides were present in the oral secretion obtained from the smallest partially fed (slow feeding) ticks. In some ticks, proteins were observed in oral secretions obtained from the same tick at one collection time but not another in response to the same pharmacological agent