Posted in Acetylcholine, insects, pain on July 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Via Homely Scientist, I’m introduced to the shockingly large Vespa mandarinia (a.k.a. the Asian Giant Hornet, a.k.a. Japanese Hornet).
He quotes the wikipedia article on the species:
The venom contains 5% acetylcholine, a greater concentration than is present in bee or other wasp venoms. Acetylcholine stimulates the pain nerve fibres, intensifying the pain of the sting.
I haven’t [...]
Posted in Dopamine, Serotonin, allergies, endocannabinoid, inflammation, neuroplasticity on July 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Serotonin and dopamine are both found in the venoms of some scorpions and some centipedes.
Injected subcutaneously, as with a scorpion sting, the molecules are inflammatory.
Cannabinoids have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin, as I cited in an earlier post.
Serotonin and dopamine are of course excitatory neurotransmitters.
Endocannabinoids serve to guide axons in the formation of new [...]
Posted in behavior, digestion, evolution, gut flora, mood on July 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Speaking of things to eagerly await, in the first of a five-part series, Mike Johnson at Modern Dragons speculates about gut flora and their possible influence on human mood and behavior:
I think that’s probably the case and, getting further afield, what I’d like to do is attempt to look into whether the changes in gut [...]
Posted in Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Serotonin, evolution, insects on July 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Kelley at Bugs for Thugs:
Do insects have the same kinds of neurotransmitters as humans do? A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that is released when a nerve impulse reaches the synapse. Yes insects have them and even more they have some of the same neurotransmitters as vertebrates do, such as serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine.
