ABSTRACT
A piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI) sensor was used to investigate influences of the insecticide methamidophos on proteinase activity in midguts of the wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoamulata (Araneae: Lycosidae). Results from PQCI indicated that low-concentration dose methamidophos (0.008%) can activate the proteinase but high-concentration dose methamidophos (0.016-0.032%) can inhibit the enzyme activity. The changes in subcellular structure of spider midgut cells were also observed. Electron micrographs of spider midgut epithelial cells showed that the low-dose methamidophos did not visibly impact the structure of these cells. Conversely, high-concentration dose methamidophos led to severe changes in the cell structure, including the karyotheca dissolved, the nucleolus, and the endoplasmic reticulum disappeared. These may contribute to changes in proteinase activity of spider. This work documents a feasible method for rapid and reliable detection of proteinase activity.
