Spiders as Pets?

Salehifard

et al. 2023

Front. Mol. Neurosci.

Excitotoxicity is a common pathological process in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is caused by the over-activity of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptors (NMDARs). The release of neurotransmitters depends on the activity of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). Hyper-stimulation of NMDARs can enhance the releasement of neurotransmitters through the VGCCs. This malfunction of channels can be blocked by selective and potent N-type VGCCs ligand. Under excitotoxicity condition, glutamate has negative effects on the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, which ends in synaptic loss and elimination of these cells. These events leads to learning and memory elimination through the hippocampus circuit’s dysfunction. A suitable ligand has a high affinity to receptor or channel and is selective for its target. The bioactive small proteins of venom have these characteristics. Therefore, peptides and small proteins of animal venom are precious sources for pharmacological applications. The omega-agatoxin-Aa2a was purified, and identified from Agelena labyrinthica specimens, as an N-type VGCCs ligand for this study. The effect of the omega-agatoxin-Aa2a on the glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in rats was evaluated through behavioral tests including Morris Water Maze, and Passive avoidance. The syntaxin1A (SY1A), synaptotagmin1 (SYT1), and synaptophysin (SYN) genes expression were measured via Real-Time PCR. The local expression of synaptosomal-associated protein, 25 k Da (SNAP-25) was visualized using an immunofluorescence assay for synaptic quantification. Electrophysiological amplitude of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the input–output and LTP curves of mossy fiber were recorded. The cresyl violet staining of hippocampus sections was performed for the groups. Our results demonstrated that the omega-agatoxin-Aa2a treatment could recover the learning, and memory impairment caused by NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in rat hippocampus.

Section: Spider Collection Identification and Venom Extractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alleviation of cognitive deficits in a rat model of glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, using an N-type voltage-gated calcium channel ligand, extracted from Agelena labyrinthica crude venom

Salehifard

et al. 2023

Front. Mol. Neurosci.

“…Harpactea saeva is a Carpatho-Balkanic species distributed in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, S-Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and Greece (Komnenov 2014). It inhabits the litter layer, preferably of oak forests (Nentwig et al 2022). In this study, it was registered next to a vineyard near a stream in the Skopje valley.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Aug. 2014. Collected spiders were analysed taxonomically with the use of keys by Heimer & Nentwig (1991) and Nentwig et al (2022), as well as the personal collection of Christo Deltshev. Data on general distribution was taken from World Spider Catalog (2022), while data on zoogeographic classification of spiders are taken from Stefanovska et al (2008), Deltshev et al (2011, 2013 and Komnenov (2014Komnenov ( , 2017.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution to the knowledge of Araneae (Arachnida) in Skopje valley, North Macedonia

Matevski

Deltshev

Cvetkovska-Gjorgjievska

et al. 2022

MJEE

A total of 71 species belonging to 14 families (Araneidae -1; Dysderidae -3; Gnaphosidae -21; Linyphiidae -6; Liocranidae -2; Lycosidae -19; Philodromidae -2; Pisauridae -1; Salticidae -3; Tetragnathidae -2; Theridiidae -1; Thomisidae -4; Titanoecidae -3; Zodariidae -2) were registered from three sites in Skopje valley, North Macedonia. Of the registered species, 3 are new for the Macedonian fauna: Hypsosinga sanguinea (C. L. Koch, 1844), Marinarozelotes adriaticus (Caporiaco, 1951) and Zelotes harmeron Levy, 2009. They haven't been recorded before due to the lack of faunistic research of spiders in R. North Macedonia. The araneofauna is classified into 17 zoogeographic categories combined in 4 chorological complexes (widely distributed, European, Mediterranean and endemics). Widely distributed species are dominant (60,56%), followed by European (21,13%), Mediterranean (11,27%) and endemics (7,04%).

“…In Egypt, this family is represented by 2 species from 2 genera, Ero C. L. Koch, 1836and Mimetus Hentz, 1832(El-Hennawy, 2017a. The spider genus Ero is characterized by: legs of equal length, prosoma nearly same width and length (Nentwig et al, 2022). Cephalothorax strongly convex, high in the middle and sloping steeply posterior to fovea; chelicerae without conspicuous heavy bristles; clypeus height barely less than length of median ocular quadrangle.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conductor with a prolateral furrow, additionally round at the end. (Nentwig et al, 2022;Thaler et al, 2004). Paracymbium, extending retro laterally, forming a vertical branch, bearing two dorsal humps and a ventral blade, without distal branch.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The First Record of Ero aphana (Araneae: Mimetidae) in Egypt

Sawers¹,

El-Bishlawy²,

Hassan³

et al. 2023

AJPP

Sawers, M.A.R., S.M.O. El-Bishlawy, M.F. Hassan and G.M.S. Sallam. 2023. The First Record of Ero aphana (Araneae: Mimetidae) in Egypt. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(1): 15-17. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-41.1.015017 This investigation presents a new record, Ero aphana (Walckenaer, 1802) (Araneae: Mimetidae) in the Egyptian fauna. It was found in the Experimental Station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza Governorate, Egypt on grapefruit trees (Citrus paradise) on October 1, 2018. Six Specimens; one male and five Juveniles of E. aphana were collected and identified. In addition, notes on the description, environmental conditions and collection data of this species are given. Photos of general habitus and palpal organ of the male and measurements of leg segments are illustrated. Keywords: Araneae, Mimetidae, Ero aphana, new record, Egypt