Pontes Gina B, Bohman Björn, Unelius C Rikard, Lorenzo Marcelo G
Laboratory of Triatomines and Chagas Disease Epidemiology, Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, 30190002 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
J Chem Ecol. 2008 Apr;34(4):450-7. doi: 10.1007/s10886-008-9431-5. Epub 2008 Mar 4.
Twelve compounds produced by the metasternal glands (MGs) of the triatomine bug Rhodnius prolixus were identified by solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using achiral and chiral columns. All substances were ketones or alcohols, and the same compound profile was found in the secretions produced by either sex. The most abundant compounds were 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, (2S)-pentanol, (3E)-2-methyl-3-penten-2-ol, and (2R/2S)-4-methyl-3-penten-2-ol. Emission of these compounds was detected more frequently from females than males, and females released them more frequently during the early hours of the scotophase, the period when sexual activity in this species is at its peak. These compounds were also detected in the headspace above mating pairs. Finally, the occlusion of the MG orifices of male or female bugs with paraffin resulted in a significant decrease in copulation frequency compared to sham-operated insects. Together, these data suggest that the MG secretions of R. prolixus may be involved in sexual communication.
利用固相微萃取（SPME）结合使用非手性和手性柱的气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）技术，鉴定了红带锥蝽（Rhodnius prolixus）后胸腺（MGs）产生的12种化合物。所有物质均为酮类或醇类，且在两性产生的分泌物中发现了相同的化合物谱。含量最高的化合物为2-甲基-3-丁烯-2-醇、（2S）-戊醇、（3E）-2-甲基-3-戊烯-2-醇和（2R/2S）-4-甲基-3-戊烯-2-醇。检测发现，雌性释放这些化合物的频率高于雄性，且雌性在暗期早期（该物种性活动高峰期）更频繁地释放这些化合物。在交配雌雄虫上方的顶空中也检测到了这些化合物。最后，与假手术昆虫相比，用石蜡堵塞雄性或雌性昆虫的MG孔会导致交配频率显著降低。这些数据共同表明，红带锥蝽的MG分泌物可能参与了性交流。
