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Journal of Experimental Biology 161,423-438 (1991)
Published by Company of Biologists 1991

The Role of Cyclic AMP in the Octopaminergic Modulation of Flight Muscle in the Locust

MATTHEW D. WHIM 1 and PETER D. EVANS 2

1 AFRC Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ; Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
2 AFRC Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ

The role of cyclic AMP in the octopaminergic modulation of the dorsal longitudinal flight muscles of the locust Schistocerca gregaria has been investigated. Several techniques have been used to elevate cyclic AMP levels in this tissue by mechanisms that bypass the receptor activation stage. These include the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors to block the metabolism of cyclic nucleotides, the use of forskolin, the diterpene activator of adenylate cyclase, and the direct application of permeable and phosphodiesterase-resistant analogues of cyclic AMP. All these approaches can be shown to mimic the modulatory effects of octopamine on the flight muscle. Surprisingly, the phosphodiesterase inhibitors used were not able to potentiate the actions of octopamine on this preparation. Octopamine increases cyclic AMP levels in a similar fashion in all five motor units of this muscle, an effect that is selectively blocked by phentolamine, an {alpha}-adrenergic blocking agent that blocks octopamine receptors in other preparations. In addition, stimulation of the dorsal unpaired median neurone to the dorsal longitudinal flight muscles (DUMDL) results in a frequency-dependent increase in cyclic AMP levels in the muscle that is also blocked by phentolamine. The data presented suggest that the octopamine-mediated modulation of neurally evoked tension in this muscle is brought about by a mechanism that involves an increase in cyclic AMP levels in the tissue.

Key words: octopamine, cyclic AMP, flight muscle, locust, insect, Schistocerca gregaria

Accepted on July 29, 1991






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1991