Quantitative peptidomic for the study of neuroendocrinological activation after feeding in the insect Rhodnius prolixus, vector of Chagas Disease

ONS SHEILA; STERKEL MARCOS; CARDOZO DARÍO; URLAUB HENNING; RIVERA POMAR ROLANDO

Huerta Grande. Córdoba

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias; 2010

In triatomine insects, vectors of Chagas Disease, blood feeding stimulates events associated with grow and development, as much as a rapid diuresis during which the transmission of the parasite Tripanosoma cruzi occurs. All these events are regulated by neuropeptides.  The insect neuropeptidome is a promising target for a novel generation of insecticides that offer improved selectivity and environmental compatibility. The understanding of quantitative modification of the neuropeptide set in response to feeding provides information for the development of molecules capable of disrupting the physiological processes regulated by feeding, in order to replace conventional insecticides. We performed quantitative peptidomic experiments, using nano-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, after dimethyl labeling of samples, which allows triplex labeling. We compared concentration of specific neuropeptides in R. prolixus central nervous system at three different physiological conditions (starved, 4 hs and 24 hs after feeding). We observed significant changes in the levels of Leucokinins, Neuropeptide-like precursor 1, Prohormone 2, Prohormone 3 and Short Neuropeptide F, suggesting the involvement of these molecules in the regulation of processes triggered by feeding.