Current Research Interests

Angela B. Lange My current research interests center on the role of peptide families in the physiology of the reproductive system and digestive system of the medically-important hemipteran, Rhodnius prolixus. In particular, we are interested in the myoinhibiting peptide family that plays a role in modifying contractions of reproductive tissueand the tachykinin-related family of peptides that are involved in digestive function.

Other areas of interest include the recent discovery that tyramine might be a possible neurotransmitter at the locust oviduct. Tyramine is found to be present in the innervation to the oviducts and plays a role in controlling oviduct contractions, i.e. it leads to dose-dependent decreases in oviduct contractions. This result together with the recent discovery of the gene for the tyramine receptor at the oviducts opens the door to doing some intricate work examining the mode of action of tyramine on the oviducts.

Other current research interests of my students revolve around neuropeptides and the function of these in various insect systems such as the digestive system, the circulatory system and the reproductive system (see below for titles).

Current Projects

• The effects of CCAP on the reproductive system of the locust, Locusta migratoria.
• Role of peptide SchistoFLRFamide on the heart of stick insect, Baculum extradentatum
• Tyramine as a neurotransmitter at the locust oviduct.
• Novel roles for proctolin in the locust
• Role of proctolin in digestion in the locust
• The role of neuropeptides in controlling cardiac output.
• The role of peptides in reproductive and digestive systems in insects.

Recent Publications

Lee D H; Paluzzi J P; Orchard I; Lange A B. 2011. Isolatin, cloning and expression of the Crustacean Cardioactive peptide gene in the Chagas' disease vector. Peptides 32: 475-482.

da Silva Rosa; Lange Angela B. 2011. Evidence of a central pattern generator regulating spermathecal muscle activvity in Locusta migratoria and its coordination with oviposition. Journal of experimental biology 214:757-763.

Mykles, D.L., Adams, M.E., Gade, G., Lange, A.B., Marco, H. and Orchard, I. (2010) Neuropeptide action in insects and crustaceans.  Physiol. Biochem. Zool. 83:836-846.
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Robertson, L., and Lange, A.B. (2010) Neural substrate and allatostatin-like innervations of the gut of Locusta migratoria.  J. Insect Physiol. 56:893-901.

Esau Ruiz-Sanchez, Angela B. Lange, Ian Orchard (2010) Effects of the cyclopeptide mycotoxin destruxin A on the Malpighian tubules of Rhodnius prolixus (Stål). Toxicon 56:1043-1051.

Ayali, A. and Lange, A.B. (2010) Rhythmic behaviour and pattern-generating circuits in the locust: Key concepts and recent updates.  J. Insect Physiol. 56:834-843.

Coast, G.M., Te Brugge, V.A., Nachman, R.J., Lopez, J., Aldrich, J.R., Lange, A. and Orchard, I.  (2010) Neurohormones implicated in the control of Malpighian tubule secretion in plant sucking heteropterans:  The stink bugs Acrosternum hilare and Nezara viridula.  Peptides 31: 468-473.

Calvin, A. and Lange, A.B. (2010) The association of the FMRFamide-related peptide family with the heart of the stick insect, Baculum extradentatum.  Open Access Insect Physiology 2:1-10.

Lange, A.B. 2009.  Neural mechanisms coordinating the female reproductive system in the locust. Fronteirs in Science14: 4401-4415.

Lange, A.B. 2009. Tyramine: from octopamine precursor to neuroactive chemical in insects.  Gen. Comp.  Endocrinol. 162:18-26.

Ejaz, A. and A.B. Lange, 2008.  Peptidergic control of the heart of the stick insect, Baculum extradentatum. Peptides 29:214-225.

Lange, A.B. and K. Chan, 2008. Dopaminergic control of foregut contractions in Locusta migratoria. J. Insect Physiol. 54:222-230.

Lange, A. B. and R. da Silva 2007. Neural and Hormonal Control of the Spermatheca in the Locust, Locusta migratoria. Peptides 28:174-184.

da Silva, R. and A.B. Lange. 2006. The association of the neuropeptide CCAP with the spermatheca of the locust, Locusta migratoria. J.ournal Insect Physiology 52:399-409.

Clark, L., Zhang, J.-P., Tobe, S.S. and A.B. Lange. 2006. Proctolin: a possible releasing factor in the corpus cardiacum / corpus allatum of the locust. Peptides 27:559-566.

Clark, L., Agricola, H. and A.B. Lange. 2006. Proctolin-like immunoreactivity in the central and peripheral nervous systems of the locust, Locusta migratoria. Peptides 27:549-558.

Clark, L. and A.B. Lange. 2005. Proctolin’s role as a releasing factor in the corpus cardiacum / corpus allatum of the locust. Pestycydy 4:71-76.

Molaei, G. and A.B. Lange. 2005. Isolation, cloning, and tissue expression of a putative octopamine/tyramine receptor subtype from the locust, Locusta migratoria visceral muscle tissues. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 59:132-149.

Lange, A.B. and K. Patel. 2005. Crustacean cardioactive peptide is an important modulator in the stick insect Extradentatum baculum. Regulatory Peptides 129:191-201.

Selected Conference Titles

Robertson, L. and Lange, A.B. The involvement of proctolin and Dippu-allatostatin in locust digestion. Invertebrate Neuropeptide Conference, Merida, Mexico. February 14-19, 2010.

da Silva, R. and Lange, A.B.  Control of spermathecal activities in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.  Invertebrate Neuropeptide Conference, Merida, Mexico. February 14-19, 2010.

Lange, A. Central neurons and their multiple neuroactive chemicals coordinate the actions of reproductive tissues in the female locust, Locusta migratoria. International Congress of Comparative Endocrinology, Hong Kong, June 22-26, 2009.

Robertson, L., and Lange, A.B. Peptidergic innervations of the locust gut.  Insect Biotech conference, St. Catharines, June 10-12, 2009.

Lee, D., and Lange, A.B.  Characterization of a crustacean cardioactive peptide in the blood-feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus.  Insect Biotech conference, St. Catharines, June 10-12, 2009.

da Silva, R. and Lange, A.B. The neural control of the spermatheca in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.  Insect Biotech conference, St. Catharines, June 10-12, 2009.

da Silva, R. and Lange, A.B. The neural control of muscular activity of the spermatheca in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.  Canadian Society of Zoologists 48th Annual Meeting, Scarborough, May 18-22, 2009.

Lee, D., Paluzzi, J.-P., and Lange, A.B. A crustaeacn carioactive peptide in Rhodnius prolixus.  Canadian Society of Zoologists 48th Annual Meeting, Scarborough, May 18-22, 2009.

Robertson, L., and Lange, A.B. The association of proctolin and Dippu-allatostatin with the locust gut.   Canadian Society of Zoologists 48th Annual Meeting, Scarborough, May 18-22, 2009

Lange, A.B. and R. da Silva, Complex neuropeptidergic control of an apparently ‘simple’ open circulatory system.  Invertebrate Neuropeptide Conference, Khajuraho, India, January 2009

Lange, A.B. and da Silva, R. Neuropeptides modulate the hearts of insects.  24th Conference of European Comparative Endocrinologists, Genoa, Italy, Sept. 2-6, 2008.

Lange, A.B. Dippu-allatostatin and proctolin are releasing factors in the locust, Locusta migratoria. Society for Experimental Biology, Glasgow, UK, April 2007.

Lange, A.B. and Clark L. Dippu-allatostatin and proctolin act as adipokinetic hormone-releasing factors in the locust, Locusta migratoria. Invertebrate Neuropeptide Conference, Luang Prabang, Laos, Jan. 2007.

Lange, A.B. Proctolin: A multifunctional factor in the corpus cardiacum / allatum of the locust, Locusta migratoria. 23rd Conference of European Comparative Endocrinologists, Manchester, August 2006.

Lange, A.B. and L. Clark, Neuropeptides as releasing factors in the corpus cardiacum / corpus allatum of Locusta. Insect Biotech Conference, St. Catharine, June 2006.

da Silva, Rosa and Lange, A.B. The association of neurochemicals with the spermatheca of L. migratoria. Insect Biotech Conference, St. Catharine, June 2006.

Clark, L. and Lange, A.B. The distribution of physiological roles of allatostatin in the locust, Locusta migratoria. Insect Biotech Conference, St. Catharine, June 2006.

da Silva, Rosa and Lange, A.B. The influence of neuroactive chemicals on the spermatheca of Locusta migratoria. Invertebrate Neuropeptide Conference, Guanajuato, 2006.

Lange, A.B. Proctolin: a hormonal releasing factor in the locust, Locusta migratoria. IVth International Conference on Arthropods: Chemical, Physiological and Environmental Aspects, Bialka Tatrzanskaq, Poland, 2005.

Lange A.B., Clark L., Zhang J.R. and Tobe, S.S. The distribution and physiological roles of proctolin in the locust, Locusta migratoria. 15th International Congress of Comparative Endocrinology, Boston, USA, May 2005

Lange, A.B. and Clark, L.The distribution and physiological effects of proctolin in the locust, Locusta migratoria. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Barcelona, Spain, 2005.

Lange, A.B. Proctolin: A multifunctional peptide in insects. Insect Biotech Canada Annual Scientific Meeting, St. Catharines, 2005.

Clark, L. Zhang, J.-R., Tobe, S.S. and Lange, A.B..The distribution and physiological roles of proctolin in the locust, Locusta migratoria. Insect Neuropeptide Conference, Thailand, 2005.