ants and Hypoxia

After copulation, insect females store sperm in a spermatheca for some duration until fertilization. At the beginning of their adult lives, ant queens can preserve numerous viable sperm cells from copulation for over ten years. However, the key factors influencing long-term sperm storage have not been identified. Here we show that the spermathecal environment is nearly anoxic, which induces sperm immobilization. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiratory inhibitors suppress sperm motility, suggesting that sperm immobilization may be caused by a shortage of ATP generated from only glycolysis under near-anoxic conditions. Sperm immobilization is not induced by acidification via glycolytic metabolism because the spermathecal fluid is not acidic. Finally, we show that artificial anoxic conditions rather than aerobic conditions sustain viable sperm cells. Therefore, near-anoxia is a key factor influencing long-term sperm storage in ant queens. The viability of sperm cells under artificial anoxia, however, is lower than that of those dissected immediately from queens. Moreover, the immotile sperm cells under more than 4 h of anoxia do not begin swimming after aerobic exposure, unlike those under anoxic conditions for less than 2 h. This finding indicates that factors other than anoxia are also necessary for long-term sperm preservation.

Topics: Animals; Ants; Female; Hypoxia; Male; Semen; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa

Respiratory water loss (RWL) in insects showing continuous emission of CO(2) is poorly studied because few methodologies can measure it. Comparisons of RWL between insects showing continuous and discontinuous gas exchange cycles (DGC) are therefore difficult. We used two recently developed methodologies (the hyperoxic switch and correlation between water-loss and CO(2) emission rates) to compare cuticular permeabilities and rates of RWL in five species of ants, the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) and four common native ant competitors. Our results showed that RWL in groups of ants with moderate levels of activity and continuous gas exchange were similar across the two measurement methods, and were similar to published values on insects showing the DGC. Furthermore, ants exposed to anoxia increased their total water loss rates by 50-150%. These results suggest that spiracular control under continuous gas exchange can be as effective as the DGC in reducing RWL. Finally, the mesic-adapted Argentine ant showed significantly higher rates of water loss and cuticular permeability compared to four ant species native to dry environments. Physiological limitations may therefore be responsible for restricting the distribution of this invasive species in seasonally dry environments.

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Ants; Carbon Dioxide; Hypoxia; Species Specificity; Temperature; Water Loss, Insensible

Experiments show that Chinese Ant Oral Syrup has functions as calmatives, fatigue-resisting agents and androgen. Also it can cause thymic atrophy in small mice, increase their oxygen-deficient endurance under normal pressures, inhibit leucocyte-decrease induced by cyclophosphamidum. The syrup is slightly toxic.

Topics: Animals; Ants; Fatigue; Female; Hypoxia; Leukocyte Count; Male; Materia Medica; Mice; Panax; Plants, Medicinal; Prostate; Rats; Sleep; Thymus Gland