What do taste receptors tell blood-sucking bugs about food quality?

6. PONTES G, ORTEGA INSAURRALDE I, DE BRITO SANCHEZ G, BARROZO RB

Huerta Grande Cordoba

Congreso; II Latin American Association of Chemical Ecology; 2012

P82 - What do taste receptors tell blood-sucking bugs about foodquality?Gina Pontes1, Isabel Ortega Insaurralde1, Gabriela de Brito Sanchez2 andRomina B. Barrozo*1Email: rbarrozo@bg.fcen.uba.ar1Laboratory of Insect Physiology, Institute of Biodiversity,Experimental andApplied Biology (IBBEA-CONICET), FCEyN, University of Buenos Aires,Argentina2Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale, CNRS - Univ.Paul Sabatier(UMR 5169), Bât. 4R3 -118 route de Narbonne, F 31062 TOULOUSE CEDEX 4Chemosensory systems like smell and taste are essential senses for mostanimals to find food, locate a sexual partner and refuge. Though, taste senseenables them to detect safe-nutritious food sources and to avoid toxic substancespresent in the environment. Taste receptors in insects are widely distributed overthe animal`s body (antenna, proboscis, legs, ovipositor, wings). In triatomineinsects, previous reports based on morphological evidences, have suggested thepresence of taste receptors on the antenna, although also on the proboscis.However, the functional nature of these receptors was still unknown. In thepresent work, we characterized through single sensillum recordings (SSR), theresponse of taste antennal sensilla in Rhodnius prolixus to different tastants, likesalts (NaCl, KCl), sweet (sucrose) and bitter compounds (quinine and caffeine).Subsequently, we analyzed, by means of behavioral assays, whether the tasteantennal/proboscis receptors might have a role in food acceptance. The feedingresponse of insects (measured as weight gain) to a well-established artificial diet(i.e. saline solution added with ATP, adenosine triphosphate) was evaluated ininsects that their antenna or proboscis had been previously and gently touchedwith a toothpick soaked with water, NaCl, quinine or caffeine: Our results revealthe existence of taste receptors sensitive to salts and bitter compounds, (caffeineand quinine) that respond in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we begin touncover the role of taste antennal/proboscis receptors in the decision of insects toaccept or to reject a potential meal.Key words: triatomines, blood sucking, feeding, electrophysiology.Financial support: Agencia – FONCyT PICT PRH -2009-00081, CONICET,Subsidio Cesar Milstein.