Novel histopathological and molecular effects of natural compound pellitorine on larval midgut epithelium and anal gills of Aedes aegypti

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 11; p. e80226
• Main Authors: Perumalsamy, Haribalan, Kim, Jun-Ran, Oh, Sang Mi, Jung, Je Won, Ahn, Young-Joon, Kwon, Hyung Wook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 18.11.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphatase; Aedes - drug effects; Aedes - metabolism; Aedes aegypti; Agricultural biotechnology; Agriculture; Anal Canal - drug effects; Anal Canal - metabolism; Animals; Aquaporins; Aquaporins - metabolism; Aquatic insects; Cloning; Culicidae; Dengue; Dengue fever; Digestive System - drug effects; Digestive System - metabolism; Disease transmission; Epithelium; Epithelium - drug effects; Epithelium - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - physiology; Fever; Gene expression; Gene Expression - drug effects; Gills; Gills - drug effects; Gills - metabolism; H+-transporting ATPase; Hemolymph; Hemolymph - drug effects; Hemolymph - metabolism; Insecticides; Larva - drug effects; Larva - metabolism; Larvae; Life sciences; Membranes; Microscopy; Midgut; Mosquitoes; Nutrition; Polymerase chain reaction; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Thorax; Tropical diseases; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases - metabolism; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; Yellow fever; South Korea
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080226

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is a vector for transmitting dengue fever and yellow fever. In this study, we assessed the histopathological and molecular effects of pellitorine, an isobutylamide alkaloid, on the third instar of Ae. aegypti larvae. At 5 mg/l concentration of pellitorine, the whole body of the treated larvae became dark in color, particularly damaged thorax and abdominal regions. Pellitorine was targeted mainly on midgut epithelium and anal gills, indicating variably dramatic degenerative responses of the midgut through a sequential epithelial disorganization. The anterior and posterior midgut was entirely necrosed, bearing only gut lumen residues inside the peritrophic membranes. Pellitorine caused comprehensive damage of anal gill cells and branches of tracheole and debris was found in hemolymph of the anal gills. RT-PCR analysis indicates that the compound inhibited gene expression encoding V-type H(+)-ATPase and aquaporine 4 after treatment with 2.21 mg/l pellitorine. These results verify that pellitorine merits further study as a potential larvicide with a specific target site and a lead molecule for the control of mosquito populations.