Anopheles gambiae mosquito isolated neurons: a new biological model for optimizing insecticide/repellent efficacy.

To understand better the mode of action of insecticides and repellents used in vector-borne diseases control, we developed a new biological model based on mosquito neurons isolated from adults Anopheles gambiae heads. This cellular model is well adapted to multidisciplinary approaches: electrophysiology, pharmacology, molecular biology and biochemical assays. Using RT-PCR, we demonstrated that isolated neurons express the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α1 (Agα1 nAchR), two acetylcholinesterases (AChE-1 and AChE-2) and three voltage-gated ion channels required for membrane excitability (AgCav1, AgNav1 and AgKv1).

How does calcium-dependent intracellular regulation of voltage-dependent sodium current increase the sensitivity to the oxadiazine insecticide indoxacarb metabolite decarbomethoxylated JW062 (DCJW) in insect pacemaker neurons?

Decarbomethoxylated JW062 (DCJW), the active component of the oxadiazine insecticide (S)-methyl 7-chloro-2,5-dihydro-2-[[(methoxycarbonyl)[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl] amino]carbonyl] indeno[1,2-e][1,3,4]oxadiazine-4a(3H)-carboxylate (DPX-JW062) (indoxacarb), was tested on 2 inward voltage-dependent sodium currents (named INa1 and INa2) expressed in short-term cultured dorsal unpaired median neurons of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. Under whole-cell voltage-clamp conditions, application of DCJW resulted in a biphasic dose-dependent inhibition of the global sodium current amplitude illustrating the differing sensitivity of sodium channels to DCJW. INa2 was less sensitive to DCJW [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) = 1.

Differential regulation of two distinct voltage-dependent sodium currents by group III metabotropic glutamate receptor activation in insect pacemaker neurons.

Using whole cell patch-clamp technique and immunocytochemistry on adult dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons isolated from the cockroach Periplaneta americana CNS, we reported the characterization of a native mGluR, sharing pharmacological properties with vertebrate metabotropic glutamate receptor III (mGluRIII) that regulated voltage-dependent sodium current (I(Na)). The global I(Na) was dissociated by means of l-glutamate sensitivity, deactivation time constant, voltage dependence of activation and inactivation, recovery from inactivation, and intracellular regulation process. These two currents were respectively designated I(Na1) and I(Na2) for l-glutamate-sensitive and -insensitive sodium currents.