Developmental changes in the levels and redox potentials of main hemolymph thiols/disulfides in the Jamaican field cricket Gryllus assimilis

Main thiols and disulfides were determined in the hemolymph of the Jamaican field cricket Gryllus assimilis at various developmental stages. On the basis of these data, redox potentials of the glutathione, cysteine and homocysteine redox systems were calculated. The concentrations of all thiols studied decreased during development (at a stage of 6 molts) with respect to young crickets, and increased again in adult insects. Redox potentials of the glutathione and cysteine systems increased from values of -131.0±5.6 mV and -86.9±17.1 mV, respectively in young crickets to -58.0±3.6 mV and -36.1±4.2 mV, respectively, at the stage of 6 molts and decreased to values of -110.4±24.8 mV and -66.3±12.2 mV, respectively, in adult insects. Redox potentials of the glutathione and cysteine systems in the hemolymph of young and adult insects were similar to those reported for human plasma.