Vk. Pedibhotla et al., PROSTAGLANDIN BIOSYNTHESIS BY SALIVARY-GLANDS ISOLATED FROM THE LONE STAR TICK, AMBLYOMMA-AMERICANUM, Insect biochemistry and molecular biology, 27(3), 1997, pp. 255-261
Salivary glands separated from internal tissues of the lone star tick,
Amblyomma americanum, are competent to synthesize prostaglandins (PGs
), Using an in vitro PG biosynthesis assay four major PGs, namely, PGA
(2)/PGB(2), PGD(2), PGE(2), and PGF(2 alpha) were synthesized. Under s
tandard assay conditions PGA(2)/PGB(2) was the predominant product, Sa
livary tissues as well as non-salivary internal tissues were capable o
f PG biosynthesis. We observed that storing ticks at -80 degrees C for
3 months resulted in reduced PG biosynthesis, This indicates that the
tick preparation, unlike comparable mammalian preparations, is not st
able to freezing, Cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin (> 10 mu m)
and naproxen (> 15 mu m), completely inhibited PG biosynthesis. These
results demonstrate the presence of a PG biosynthetic system in saliva
ry glands and other internal tissues of the lone star ticks. (C) 1997
Elsevier Science Ltd.