Research Update:Mantis Egg-Case.

  seminal trace...Mantis Egg-Case Extract.Otheca Mantidis.Egg Case of Tenodera sinensis Saussure.Statilia maculata Thunb.Hierodula patellifera...

 


   Phytochemical info of Mantis Egg-Case.

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 Definition:Mantis Egg-Case are majorly composed of
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   Research Update:Mantis Egg-Case.

  Insect-derived crude drugs in the Chinese Song dynasty.:

 Fifty-four kinds of crude drug derived from insects are listed in the "herbal" Jing Shi Zheng Lei Da Guang Ben Cao (1108 A.D.) edited during the Chinese Song dynasty (960-1280 A.D.). We considered each of them from the viewpoint of various herbals and have commented on them, the order being adhered to in most cases. We added our own findings of identification of insect crude drugs available on the market. The crude drugs emphasized are mantis egg case, wasp's nest, scarab larva, red cicada, snipe fly, horse fly, flying cockroach, Eupolyphaga, Chinese Cantharides and scarab beetle. Others are discussed to a lesser extent.

  Comparison of pharmacological studies on ootheca Mantidis.:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1997 Aug;22(8):496-9 inside back cover.Tan Z, Lei Y, Zhang B, Huang L.Sichuan Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing.

 The pharmacological effects of three species of Ootheca Mantidises were compared. The results indicate that Tenodera sinensis can increase the index of testis and thymus gland, and has an antidiuretic effect in mice; Statilia maculate can prolong the swimming time and ordinary pressing anoxia, increase the index of spleen and thymus gland, raise the temperature in mice, decrease the content of LPO in liver of the hypercholesteremia rats, and has an antidiuretic effect; Hierodula patellifera can increase the index of testis and thymus gland, raise the temperature in mice, and decrease the content of LPO in liver of the hypercholesteremia rets. The LD50 of the three species of Ootheca Mantidises are all over 320 g/kg.

  Cuticular extracts of five common mantids (Mantodea:Mantidae) of the eastern United States.:Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 1997 Apr;116(4):419-22.Jones TH, Moran MD, Hurd LE.Department of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington 24450, USA.

 We undertook a preliminary investigation of the cuticular extracts of five common mantid species in the eastern United States: Tenodera sinensis (Saussure), T. angustipennis (Saussure) and Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus) introduced from the Old World and Stagmomantis carolina (Johannson) and Bruneria borealis (Scudder), which are New World species. The major components of these mixtures were normal alkanes, predominately hentriacontane, or in the case of the parthenogenic species B. borealis, tritriacontane. Tricontanal was detected in the extracts of all five species, and smaller amounts of other aldehydes and n-tricontanol were detected in some species. Complex mixtures of methyl and dimethylalkanes also were present in these extracts. The composition of the cuticular hydrocarbons of these mantids may be an adaptation for reduction of evaporative water loss in these insects that inhabit open fields.

  Complicity or conflict over sexual cannibalism? Male risk taking in the praying mantis Tenodera aridifolia sinensis.:Am Nat. 2006 Aug;168(2):263-9. Epub 2006 Jul 12.Lelito JP, Brown WD.Department of Biology, State University of New York, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA. jpl207@psu.edu

 Male complicity versus conflict over sexual cannibalism in mantids remains extremely controversial, yet few studies have attempted to establish a causal relationship between risk of cannibalism and male reproductive behavior. We studied male risk-taking behavior in the praying mantid Tenodera aridifolia sinensis by altering the risk imposed by females and measuring changes in male behavior. We show that males were less likely to approach hungrier, more rapacious females, and when they did approach, they moved more slowly, courted with greater intensity, and mounted from a greater distance. Similarly, when forced to approach females head-on, within better view and better reach of females, males also approached more slowly and courted with greater intensity. Thus, males behaved in a manner clearly indicative of risk avoidance, and we support the hypothesis of sexual conflict over sexual cannibalism.

  Purification and characterization of a plasmin-like protease from Tenodera sinensis (Chinese mantis).:Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Apr 27;31(6-7):573-81.Hahn BS, Cho SY, Ahn MY, Kim YS.Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, 28 Yeonkun-Dong, Jongno-Ku, Seoul 110-460, South Korea.

 A novel type of protease (mantis egg fibrinolytic enzyme, MEF-2) was isolated from the egg cases of Tenodera sinensis. The protease was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and its apparent molecular mass was 32,900 Da. The amino acids in the N-terminal region were Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Glu-Glu-Ala-Val-Ala-Gly-Asp-Phe-Pro-Ile-Val-Ser-Leu-Gln-Glu. The enzyme was inhibited by PMSF, TLCK, aprotinin, benzamidine, soybean trypsin inhibitor and also slightly by elastatinal, EDTA, EGTA, cysteine and beta-mercaptoethanol, but TPCK, iodoacetate and E-64 did not affect the activity. MEF-2 was not sensitive to alpha(1)-antitrypsin but antithrombin III and alpha(2)-antiplasmin inhibited the enzyme. MEF-2 preferentially cleaved the oxidized B-chain of insulin between Arg(22) and Gly(23). Among chromogenic protease substrates, the most susceptible to MEF-2 hydrolysis was benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-p-nitroanilide with maximal activity at 30 degrees C and pH 5.0. These results indicate that MEF-2 belongs to the trypsin family. Upon incubation of crosslinked fibrin with MEF-2, a steady increase of D-dimer suggests that the enzyme has a strong fibrinolytic activity. In conclusion, MEF-2 is a new type of proteolytic enzyme and has some potential for practical application in fibrinolysis.


  Serotonin-immunoreactive neurones in the visual system of the praying mantis: an immunohistochemical, confocal laser scanning and electron microscopic study.:Brain Res. 1999 Mar 27;823(1-2):11-23.Leitinger G, Pabst MA, Kral K.Institut f¨¹r Histologie und Embryologie, Karl Franzens-Universit?t Graz, Harrachgasse 21, A-8010, Graz, Austria. gerd.leitinger@newcastle.ac.uk

 The distribution, number, and morphology of serotonin-immunoreactive (5-HTi) neurones in the optic lobe of the praying mantis Tenodera sinensis were studied using conventional microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Five or six 5-HTi neurones connect the lobula complex with the medulla, and at least 50 5-HTi neurones appear to be confined to the medulla. In addition, a few large 5-HTi processes from the protocerebrum supply the lobula complex, and two large 5-HTi processes from the protocerebrum ramify in the medulla and lamina, where they show wide field arborisations. In order to provide a basis for understanding the action of serotonin in the lamina, the ultrastructure of its 5-HTi terminals was examined by conventional and immunohistochemical electron microscopy. The 5-HTi profiles were filled with dense core vesicles and made synapses. Output synapses from 5-HTi profiles outnumbered inputs by about 3 to 1. The terminals of the 5-HTi neurones were in close contact with cells of various types, including large monopolar cells, but close apposition to photoreceptor terminals was rare, and no synapses were found between 5-HTi terminals and photoreceptor terminals. Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

  Purification and characterization of a serine protease with fibrinolytic activity from Tenodera sinensis (praying mantis).:Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999 Mar 19;1430(2):376-86. Hahn BS, Cho SY, Wu SJ, Chang IM, Baek K, Kim YC, Kim YS.Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, 28 Yeonkun-Dong, Jongno-Ku, Seoul 110-460, South Korea.

 Mantis egg fibrolase (MEF) was purified from the egg cases of Tenodera sinensis using ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-60 and affinity chromatography on DEAE Affi-Gel blue gel. The protease was assessed homogeneous by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and has a molecular mass of 31500 Da. An isoelectric point of 6.1 was determined by isoelectric focusing. Amino acid sequencing of the N-terminal region established a primary structure composed of Ala-Asp-Val-Val-Gln-Gly-Asp-Ala-Pro-Ser. MEF readily digested the Aalpha- and Bbeta-chains of fibrinogen and more slowly the gamma-chain. The nonspecific action of the enzyme results in extensive hydrolysis of fibrinogen and fibrin releasing a variety of fibrinopeptide. The enzyme is inactivated by Cu2+ and Zn2+ and inhibited by PMSF and chymostatin, yet elastinal, aprotinin, TLCK, TPCK, EDTA, EGTA, cysteine, beta-mercaptoethanol, iodoacetate, E64, benzamidine and soybean trypsin inhibitor do not affect activity. Antiplasmin was not sensitive to MEF but antithrombin III inhibited the enzymatic activity of MEF. Among chromogenic protease substrates, the most sensitive to MEF hydrolysis was benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-p-nitroanilide with maximal activity at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C. MEF preferentially cleaved the oxidized B-chain of insulin between Leu15 and Tyr16. D-Dimer concentrations increased on incubation of cross-linked fibrin with MEF, indicating the enzyme has a strong fibrinolytic activity.

  Proprioceptive contribution to distance estimation by motion parallax in a praying mantid.:J Exp Biol. 1998 May;201 (Pt 9):1483-91.201 J, Pabst M, Kral K.

 The behavioural experiments described here examined, in the praying mantis Tenodera sinensis, the manner in which the proprioceptive cervical hair plate sensilla are involved in the measurement of the distance to a jump target with the aid of motion parallax actively produced by translatory head motion. Various combinations of surgical deafferentation of the cervical hair plate sensilla had no influence on the linearisation of head motion. However, the measurement of relative and absolute distance and the jump frequency were impaired by these interventions. From the results, it is concluded that the cervical hair plate sensilla are involved in the distance measurement mechanism, probably by allowing the nervous system to compare retinal image motion with head motion.

  The significance of head movements in distance discrimination in praying mantis larvae.:J Exp Biol. 1995;198(Pt 10):2127-37.Poteser M, Kral K.

 1. When larvae of the praying mantis Polyspilota sp. and Tenodera sinensis want to leave an exposed position and can choose to move between stationary objects at different distances, they usually choose the nearest. Their ability to select the nearest object is greatest when the background has horizontal stripes and is least when it has vertical stripes. Object preference is based on a successive distance comparison, which may involve content-related memory processes. 2. Mantid larvae can determine the absolute distance to a stationary object. Vertical contrasting borders play an important role in this process. 3. Side-to-side head movements (peering) are directly involved in the distance measurement, as shown (i) by the peering behaviour itself and (ii) by the fact that mantids can be deceived in distance measurement by arbitrary movements of target objects during the peering movement. It is supposed that the distance measurement involves the larger and faster retinal image shifts that near, as opposed to more distant, objects evoke. 4. Mantid larvae can distinguish a black-and-white rectangle in the foreground from a black-and-white striped background, even when both are similar with respect to luminance, contrast and texture. The ability to distinguish between figures and background could be explained by motion parallaxes, i.e. by the fact that during peering movements the nearer object moves faster and by a larger angle than the background structure. 5. From birth onwards, even when the eyes have yet to develop foveal specialization, mantids are capable of this visually controlled behaviour.

  Vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons and neurohemal systems in cockroaches and mantids.:J Comp Neurol. 1992 Jun 15;320(3):381-93.Davis NT, Hildebrand JG.Arizona Research Laboratories, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.

 Vasopressin-like neuropeptides of insects are of special interest because of their possible function as hormones and neuromodulators. Therefore, this study was undertaken by using whole-mount immunofluorescent staining by two antisera that recognize different types of vasopressin-like immunoreactive groups of neurons in the cockroaches Periplaneta americana, Leucophaea maderae, Nauphoeta cinerea, Diploptera punctata, and Blaberus discoidalis and in the mantids Litaneuria minor and Tenodera aridifolia sinensis. Using an antiserum to Arg/vasopressin, only two cells, the paired ventral paramedian (PVP) neurons, were immunostained in the central nervous system (CNS) of the cockroaches. These cells are located in the subesophageal ganglion, project throughout the CNS, and appear to be neurosecretory. Their varicose collaterals extend into the dorsal (motor) neuropil of the segmental ganglia, and this neuropil may be the principal site of the release of their neurosecretion. The PVP neurons were also stained by an antiserum to Lys/vasopressin; in addition, this antiserum stained several other groups of neurons, most of which appeared to be neurosecretory. Two pairs of Lys/vasopressin-immunoreactive cells are similar to the PVP neurons in that they are located in the subesophageal ganglion, extend through the ventral nerve cord, have collaterals in the dorsal neuropil of the segmental ganglia, and appear to be neurosecretory within the CNS. In addition, midventral and anteroventral clusters of Lys/vasopressin-immunoreactive neurosecretory neurons in the subesophageal ganglion project neurohemal release sites on the corpora allata. Other types of Lys/vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons include median and lateral neurosecretory cells of the protocerebrum and neurosecretory cells in the tritocerebrum, all of which project to the corpora cardiaca. In the abdominal ganglia there are posterolateral clusters of Lys/vasopressin neurosecretory neurons, and these cells extend to neurohemal release sites on the transverse and lateral cardiac nerves. In mantids the anti-Arg/vasopressin and anti-Lys/vasopressin antisera stained most of the same groups of neurons that these antisera recognized in cockroaches. The results of this study suggest that there are two or more vasopressin-like peptides in cockroaches and mantids and that these peptides may be released either as hormones in the blood or as neurosecretions within the CNS. Their function(s) in these insects remains to be determined.


  Non-predatory ingestive behaviors of the praying mantids Tenodera aridifolia sinensis (Sauss.) and Sphodromantis lineola (Burr.).:Brain Behav Evol. 1992;39(2):124-32.Prete FR, Lum H, Grossman SP.Youngstown State University, Psychology Department, Ohio 44555-0001.

 Praying mantids are thought to be so strictly predacious that, historically, carnivorousness has been used as a defining characteristics of the taxon Mantodea, and no data exist on other ingestive behaviors. We observed food- and water-deprived male and female Tenodera aridifolia sinensis (Sauss.) and Sphodromantis lineola (Burr.) in various situations and found that their ingestive behaviors are more variable than generally recognized. Both species regularly drink water in response to deprivation, the amount imbibed being correlated with the total (but not daily) percent of initial body weight lost. When presented with stimuli consisting of plastic beads of different reflective quality (shiny clear, opaque frosted, or matte black), lighted by a single direct light source, the shiny stimuli consistently elicited the most drinking-like behavior by the mantids. The preference was consistent, whether stimuli were presented together or singly. This suggests that visual cues can be used to identify water and are alone capable of maintaining drinking-like behavior. When S. lineola were presented with various stimuli, including diced apple and diced banana, in a five-way or a three-way choice test, mantids that chose a stimulus within the allotted time consistently ate the diced banana. When presented one of two stimuli differing only in odor (30 x 20 x 15 mm cloth bags filled with either plastic beads or banana), S. lineola did not attempt to eat the former, but 50% attempted to eat the bag of banana. Eating bouts were always preceded by antennae drumming in the direction of, or over the stimulus.(

  Prey capture in the praying mantis Tenodera aridifolia sinensis: coordination of the capture sequence and strike movements.:J Exp Biol. 1990 Jan;148:147-80. Review. Corrette BJ.Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403.

 Coordination of the complete capture sequence of the praying mantis has been studied in detail using several specially developed photographic techniques. The mantis was able to attack prey throughout a large three-dimensional capture zone by changing body orientation relative to its perch. This orientation centred prey on the median plane and brought it within an attack zone relative to the prothorax. Alignment with the median plane simplifies the attack since the prey can then be localized using only two dimensions. The attack comprised several stereotyped components which together formed a single movement sequence of all six legs. Although too rapid for visual feedback, a simple mechanism permits steering of these movements to capture prey at particular locations within the attack zone. These findings are contrasted with those from studies of mantis visual behaviour and a simple mechanism is suggested for how prey location is encoded to produce steering of the attack.

  Study on process of removing impurity from water-extraction of gutianquan-capsule.:Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2003 Feb;28(2):130-2. Chinese.Guo SW, Cai BC, Li D, Wang TS.Nanjing University of TCM, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China.

 OBJECTIVE: To study the result of removing impurity from water-extraction of Gutianquan-capsule with macro-reticular absorbing resin, chitosans clarification, water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation methods. METHOD: Coefficient of Unguent of macro-reticular absorbing resin, chitosans clarification method, water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation methods were compared, and qualitative assay of Ginsenoside Rg1, Re, and snide measurement of Ginsenoside Rg1, Ferulic acid, and stability experiment were made. RESULT: Coefficient of Unguent of water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation method was 17.2%, Coefficient of Unguent of chitosans clarification method was 12.8%, and macro-reticular absorbing resin method was 3.1%. They could clarify liquor of water-extraction. CONCLUSION: Chitosans clarification method is suitable for process of Gutianquan-capsule.

  Opiate receptor in praying mantis: effect of morphine and naloxone.:Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1984 May;20(5):683-7.Zabala NA, Miralto A, Maldonado H, Nu?ez JA, Jaffe K, Calderon LD.

 A praying mantis displays a "frightening reaction" called deimatic reaction (DR), any time that it is faced with a patterned visual stimulus that represents a potential damage for the insect. Results of the present paper show that the DR could be also elicited by an actual noxious (an electrical shock) and that this response is similar to that elicited by a potential nociceptive stimulus (a patterned visual stimulus). The DR elicited by the electric shock was used as a model for studying the analgesic effect of opiates. The mantis was placed in an apparatus that allowed us to give the insect an electrical shock and to measure the strength of its DR. During a first session the voltage threshold necessary to induce a full DR was determined, and then, the insect was injected with a certain solution. The voltage threshold was tested one, two and four hours after injection. Mantises that were injected with only distilled water showed no changes in their voltage threshold during the three tests. Injections of 300, 350 and 400 micrograms/g of morphine-HCl increased the voltage threshold in both a time-dependent and a dose related manner. A dose of 350 micrograms/g of morphine-HCl produced 50% of response inhibition after two hours of injections and is referred to as the median antinoxious dose ( AD50 ). Sixteen micrograms/g of naloxone given in conjunction with an AD50 of morphine, partially blocked the effect of morphine during the first hour and fully blocked it during the second hour. Thirty-two micrograms/g of naloxone fully blocked the morphine effect during the first and the second hour. However, more than 48 micrograms/g of naloxone alone also increased the voltage threshold in insects, similar to those described for vertebrates.

  Complicity or conflict over sexual cannibalism? Male risk taking in the praying mantis Tenodera aridifolia sinensis.:Am Nat. 2006 Aug;168(2):263-9. Epub 2006 Jul 12. Lelito JP, Brown WD.Department of Biology, State University of New York, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA. jpl207@psu.edu

 Male complicity versus conflict over sexual cannibalism in mantids remains extremely controversial, yet few studies have attempted to establish a causal relationship between risk of cannibalism and male reproductive behavior. We studied male risk-taking behavior in the praying mantid Tenodera aridifolia sinensis by altering the risk imposed by females and measuring changes in male behavior. We show that males were less likely to approach hungrier, more rapacious females, and when they did approach, they moved more slowly, courted with greater intensity, and mounted from a greater distance. Similarly, when forced to approach females head-on, within better view and better reach of females, males also approached more slowly and courted with greater intensity. Thus, males behaved in a manner clearly indicative of risk avoidance, and we support the hypothesis of sexual conflict over sexual cannibalism.


  Scientific References:

  1.Research Update:Mantis Egg-Case.