Laboratório de Triatomíneos e Epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ, 30.190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
J Chem Ecol. 2009 Oct;35(10):1212-21. doi: 10.1007/s10886-009-9709-2. Epub 2009 Nov 10.
In many insects, mate finding is mediated by volatile sex pheromones, but evidence for this phenomenon in triatomines (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) is still fragmentary. Recently, it was shown that metasternal glands (MGs) are involved in producing signals related to the sexual communication of Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus. Based on this, we tested whether MG volatiles could be involved in the sexual communication of Triatoma brasiliensis. Odor-mediated orientation responses were studied by using a T-tube olfactometer. These tests showed that males exhibit positive anemotaxis when confronted with adult odor-laden air currents. Moreover, females that had their metasternal glands occluded did not elicit significant orientation by males. Compounds produced by the MGs of T. brasiliensis females were identified by means of SPME, GC-FID, and GC-MS, with achiral and chiral columns. All substances identified were ketones and alcohols, and similar compound profiles were found in the secretions produced by both sexes. The most abundant compounds identified were 3-pentanone, followed by (4R)-methyl-1-heptanol, 3-pentanol, and (2S)-methyl-1-butanol. In addition, GC-EAD recordings showed that the antennae of males responded to several of the main components of female MG secretions. Our results showed that compounds produced by the MGs of T. brasiliensis females are involved in the sexual communication of this species.
在许多昆虫中，交配是通过挥发性性信息素来介导的，但三锥虫（半翅目：锥虫科）中的这种现象的证据仍然很零碎。最近，已经表明胸板腺（MGs）参与产生与 Triatoma infestans 和 Rhodnius prolixus 的性通讯有关的信号。基于此，我们测试了胸板腺挥发物是否可能参与 Triatoma brasiliensis 的性通讯。使用 T 形管嗅觉计研究了气味介导的定向反应。这些测试表明，当雄性遇到充满成虫气味的气流时，它们表现出正趋风性。此外，被封闭胸板腺的雌性不会引起雄性的显著定向反应。通过 SPME、GC-FID 和 GC-MS 以及非手性和手性柱，鉴定了 T. brasiliensis 雌性胸板腺产生的化合物。鉴定出的所有物质都是酮和醇，并且在两性产生的分泌物中都发现了相似的化合物谱。鉴定出的最丰富的化合物是 3-戊酮，其次是（4R）-甲基-1-庚醇、3-戊醇和（2S）-甲基-1-丁醇。此外，GC-EAD 记录显示，雄性触角对雌性胸板腺分泌物的几个主要成分有反应。我们的结果表明，T. brasiliensis 雌性胸板腺产生的化合物参与了该物种的性通讯。
