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First published online November 30, 2007
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 4448-4456 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.010009

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Nitrergic modulation of an oviposition digging rhythm in locusts

Philip L. Newland^* and Paul Yates

School of Biological Sciences, Biomedical Science Building, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton, SO16 7PX, UK

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: pln{at}soton.ac.uk)

Accepted 2 October 2007

In locusts, a central pattern generator underlies the rhythmic movements of the ovipositor valves that serve to drive the abdomen into damp soil in order to lay eggs. We have investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the control of this oviposition digging rhythm. NO increases the frequency of the rhythm by acting via sGC to elevate cGMP, which in turn acts via PKG. Increasing exogenous NO levels using the NO donors SNAP and PAPANONOate increased the cycle frequency of the fictive digging rhythm, as did increasing endogenous NO by bath application of the substrate for NOS, L-arginine. On the other hand, application of the NO scavenger PTIO decreased the cycle frequency, indicating that NO must normally exert a continuous and dynamic role on the central pattern generator underlying the oviposition rhythm. Inhibiting the main molecular target of NO, soluble guanylate cyclase, with ODQ reduced the cycle frequency of the rhythm, suggesting that NO mediated its effects via sGC and cyclic GMP. Further evidence for this was produced by bath application of 8-Br-cGMP, which increased the frequency of the rhythm. Bath application of the generic protein kinase inhibitor and a selective PKG inhibitor, H-7 and KT-5823, respectively, reduced the frequency of the rhythm, suggesting that PKG acted as a target for cGMP. Thus, we conclude that NO plays a key role in regulating the frequency of the central pattern generator controlling rhythmic egg-laying movements in locusts by acting via sGC/cGMP–PKG.

Key words: oviposition, central pattern generator, nitric oxide, egg laying, locust, Schistocerca gregaria

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