Respiratory Control in Insects

昆虫的呼吸的特点是长时间(有时长达几个小时)不发生气体交换，这种模式与大多数哺乳动物的呼吸模式截然不同，大多数哺乳动物的呼吸模式被限制在几秒钟或最多几分钟。这项研究项目将研究三种代表性昆虫的代谢率和呼吸模式之间的关系。温度、摄食和大气氧气将被系统地改变，作为一种产生不同代谢产出与氧气利用率的比率的手段。在这些受控条件下，将使用流通式呼吸测量仪检查呼吸模式。二氧化碳和水的释放将以秒为单位进行测量。具体地说，这项研究将检验这样一个假设，即昆虫呼吸控制的关键因素是调节内部氧气水平，而不是减少水分损失。这项研究将与一名从事博士研究的研究生以及参加加州大学欧文分校卓越研究项目的本科生一起进行。昆虫作为疾病的传播者和我们的粮食作物的破坏者，对人类社会有重大的负面影响。昆虫的呼吸系统在解剖学和生理学上都不同于哺乳动物的呼吸系统。因此，它是改进和更安全的昆虫控制机制的一个极好的目标。这项拟议的研究将调查环境因素如何影响昆虫呼吸的调节和控制。这一结果应该有助于我们正在进行的扰乱昆虫呼吸和新陈代谢的尝试，作为控制害虫的一种手段。

Respiration in insects is characterized by prolonged periods (in some cases up to several hours) in which no exchange of gases occurs and this pattern differs strongly from respiratory patterns in most mammals in which breath-holding is restricted to seconds or, at most, a few minutes. This research project will examine the relationship between metabolic rate and respiratory pattern in three representative insect species. Temperature, feeding, and atmospheric oxygen will be systematically varied as a means of producing varying ratios of metabolic output to oxygen availability. Under these controlled conditions, the pattern of respiration will be examined using flow-through respirometry. Release of carbon dioxide and water will be measured on a second-to-second basis. Specifically, this research will test the hypothesis that the critical factor in insect respiratory control is the regulation of internal oxygen levels as opposed to the reduction of water loss. The research will be conducted in conjunction with a graduate student engaged in her doctoral research, and with undergraduate students participating in the University of California, Irvine Excellence in Research program. Insects have major negative impacts on human society as vectors of disease and as destroyers of our food crops. The respiratory system of insects is both anatomically and physiologically distinct from that of mammals. As such, it is an excellent target for improved and safer insect control mechanisms. The proposed research will investigate how environmental factors impact the regulation and control of breathing in insects. The results should be of use in our ongoing attempts to disrupt insect breathing and metabolism as a means of controlling insect pests.