John G. Stoffolano, Laura Danai, James Chambers
Journal of Insect Science 13 (97), 1-10, (1 September 2013) https://doi.org/10.1673/031.013.9701
KEYWORDS: 9-AC, amiloride, benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, CIC channels, foregut, visceral muscle
Few studies have examined the various factors affecting the rate of contraction of the supercontractile muscles of the crop lobes of adult Phormia regina Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Using an in situ bioassay of the crop organ, various ion channel blockers were tested and it was demonstrated that in all cases the blockers (i.e., against the following conductances: Cl- , Ca2 , Na , and a FMRF-amide action) significantly reduced the contraction rates of the crop lobes, which were filled with 4.5 µL of 1.0 M sucrose containing 10 mM of the dye amaranth. Benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, never before reported for its effect on insect muscle, was as effective in suppressing crop muscle contraction as benzethonium chloride, which is a reported agonist of dromyosuppressin.