Effect of nutritional status and sex on the circadian variation in predation and haemolymph free sugars of Diplonychus indicus n. sp. (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)

Total free sugars in the haemolymph of an aquatic hemipteran, Diplonychus indicus n. sp. were analyzed at different times of day under differential nutritional conditions. Feeding was observed to mask the time of day variation in the haemolymph free sugars. Predatory periodicity during the day differs between sexes, suggesting the tendency of these insects to avoid intra-specific competition for food.

[Age-related changes of the mineral component content in the hemolymph of 2d- and 3d-stage larvae of the reindeer warble fly (Hypodermatidae)]

A mineral components concentration in the haemolymph of the IInd- and IIIrd-stage larvae of Oedemagena tarandi depends on the physiological state of parasites. Metabolism of mineral components is most intensive in a young actively growing organism and during moulting. The moulting is characterized by the decrease in the concentration of inorganic phosphorus and potassium and by the increase of calcium, magnesium and natrium.

[Water and electrolytes in the adductor of the mussel Mytilus edulis during adaptation to decreased salinity in vivo and in vitro]

To investigate the role of neurohumoral factors in acclimation of mussel muscle to a lowered salinity, studies have been made on the reaction of the intact mussel muscle and that of isolated muscle to change in the salinity from 26% to 10%. The general pattern of swelling of the adductor and the dynamics of its electrolyte composition in intact molluscs are similar to those in the isolated muscle. In the intact mussel this reaction of the adductor is slower. Acclimation of adductor cells is of the autonomic nature and does not depend on neurohumoral influences.

[Change in the content of inorganic ions in the hemolymph of freshwater mollusks infected with trematode parthenitae]

Changes in the concentration of ions of sodium, potassium, calcium and chlorine in the haemolymph of Lymnaea stagnalis and Planorbis corneus were studied during their infection with sporocysts and rediae of trematodes. Statistically reliable disturbances in the ion balance caused by the infection were established.

[Participation of insulin in regulating the metabolism of marine bivalve mollusks]

Marine bivalve molluscs, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis aud the scallop Chlamys (Flexopecten) glaber ponticus, have been injected (intramuscularly or in the haemolymph) with glucose, mammalian insulin, insulin (or insulin-like substance) from molluscs, and anti-insulin serum, checking changes in glucose and fatty acid content of the haemolymph as well as in the content of glycogen and the activity of glycogen synthetase in muscles. After glucose injections, studies were also made on the level of IRI in the haemolymph. Comparison of the data obtained in the present work with those reported earlier for freshwater bivalve molluscs suggests that: 1) metabolic shifts induced by anti-insulin serum are more rapid in vigorous scallops than in sedentary mussels; 2) molluscan insulin (or insulin-like substance) exerts the same effect on metabolic parameters of the molluscs, as mammalian insulin exerts in vertebrates.

[Synthesis of juvenile hormones in vitro by the corpora allata of 5th stage larva of Locusta migratoria migratorioides (R and F) (Insecta, Orthopteroida)]

Corpora allata of Locusta migratoria 5th stage larvae synthesize J.H.1, J.H.2 and J.H.3 in vitro. The C.A. of insects of different ages exbit different rates of J.H. synthesis. J.H.1 and J.H.2 synthesis is less than 1 ng/48 h/gland. During the same time the J.H.3 production may be as much as 25.6 ng/gland. J.H. synthetic activity is the same between right and left C.A. The release of J.H. from the C.A. occurs immediately following synthesis. These results are compared with in vivo haemolymphatic J.H. levels.

Hemolymph of Anopheles stephensi from noninfected and Plasmodium berghei-infected mosquitoes. 3. Carbohydrates

Determinations were made of carbohydrates in hemolymph collected from adult female mosquitoes (Anopheles stephensi). First the hemolymph was fractionated by extraction and precipitation procedures, after which qualitative and quantitative determinations of carbohydrates were made by thin layer chromatography. The most abundant sugars found in the hemolymph were glucose and trehalose, though maltose, glucuronic acid, and inositol could be found after the mosquitoes took blood meals. After the mosquitoes ingested a noninfected blood meal, their hemolymph sugar levels rose almost 4-fold. There was less of an increase following a blood meal infected with the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium berghei. Depletion of sugars in the hemolymph of infected mosquitoes may result from direct utilization of sugar by the malaria parasite developing within the mosquito.

Hemolymph of Anopheles stephensi from uninfected and Plasmodium berghei-infected mosquitoes. 2. Free amino acids

Determinations were made of free amino acids in hemolymph collected from adult female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. The hemolymph first was fractionated by extraction and precipitation procedures, after which qualitative determinations of free amino acids were made by high voltage thin layer electrophoresis, and thin layer chromatography. Subsequent quantitative determinations were made with an automatic amino acid analyzer. The concentration of total free amino acids in the hemolymph rose 60--70% after the mosquito took a blood meal, and remained relatively constant thereafter. When mosquitoes took a blood meal infected with the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, the rise in total free amino acids was only 15--25%. The chief differences that occurred with individual free amino acids was that infected mosquitoes had greater increases in arginine, greater decreases in valine and histidine, and a total loss of detectable methionine.

Isolation and characterization of a larval lipoprotein from the hemolymph of Manduca sexta

1. The larval high density lipoprotein (HDL) from the hemolymph of Manduca sexta, isolated by density gradient centrifugation, contains 61% protein, 37% lipid and 2% carbohydrate. 2. The molecular weight of HDL is 6 x 10(5), with two apoproteins of 2.85 x 10(5) and 8.1 x 10(4) daltons. 3. The large apoprotein is destroyed by trypsin treatment of the particle, while the small one is not. 4. Calculations based upon size and composition show that this particle is very different in structure from mammalian lipoproteins. It is proposed that a portion of the apoprotein occupies the central core region.

Different Tridacnins in different Tridacnid clams: a comparative study

1. Haemolymph samples from different Tridacnid clams were tested for haemagglutinin activity, using normal and enzyme-treated red cells from different sources. 2. Precipitin reactions with these haemolymph fluids were performed in agar gel, using several defined glycosubstances of different origin. 3. In several experiments it could be demonstrated that in all Tridacnid haemolymph samples anti-galactosyl ("anti-galactan") specific lectins do occur, however, they definitely differ from each other.

Physical and chemical characterization of vitellogenin from the hemolymph and eggs of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

1. Vitellogenin has been purified from mature eggs and the hemolymph of adult females of Manduca sexta by a combination of gel permeation chromatography and sodium bromide density gradient centrifugation. 2. It has a molecular weight of 2.6 x 10(5) and is a glycolipoprotein containing approx 11% lipids and 3% carbohydrates. 3. The carbohydrate moiety is comprised entirely of mannose and N-acetyl glucosamine. 4. Two polypeptide chains are present with molecular weights of 1.8 x 10(5) and 5.0 x 10(4). 5. Partial proteolytic hydrolysis of vitellogenin resulted in the degradation of the large polypeptide but did not affect the small one, suggesting that the small polypeptide is located in the interior of the particle. 6. The proteolytic hydrolysis products of the large polypeptide differed from one another by approx 12.5 x 10(3) daltons.

Tissue specific glucose-trehalose variations prior to spinning in the eri-silkworm, Philosamia ricini

A sharp rise in trehalose level of haemolymph is observed towards the end of 4th instar accompanied with sudden fall of the sugar in fat body during the same period, but after moulting blood trehalose abruptly decreases. Whereas, blood glucose level is maintained constant throughout life span of both the instars. Silkgland of 5th instar larvae presents a consistent gradual increase in glucose-trehalose levels reaching to the maximum prior to spinning with a higher value for trehalose than glucose which can be attributed to the decrease in blood trehalose level during the period.

Proteins and free amino acids in the salivary secretion and haemolymph of the tick Amblyomma hebraeum

Electrophoretic and chromatographic separations of the salivary secretion of Amblyomma hebraeum showed a less complex protein pattern than that of Ornithodoros savignyi. A hyaluronidase active component was isolated. The haemolymph protein pattern showed a major protein fraction with a mobility slightly faster than that of bovine serum albumin.

[Hypoosmotic regulation in the marine cladoceran ratchet Penilia avirostris]

At average salinity of the environment 18.08% (-delta degrees C being equal to -0.99 degrees C) the depression of the hemolymph in P. avirostris is equal to -0.72 +/- 0.09 degrees C. Hypoosmotic regulation of marsupium fluid persists up to the formation of epipodites, after which the depression of this fluid becomes equal to that of the external medium. It is suggested that special epipodite cells are involved into osmoregulation. Similarity of hypoosmotic mechanisms in the marine cladoceran and Artemia salina is noted.

Hemolymph of Anopheles stephensi from noninfected and Plasmodium berghei-infected mosquitoes. 1. Collection procedure and physical characteristics

Hemolymph was collected from adult female Anopheles stephensi by centrifugation of incised mosquitoes. Approximately 0.1 muliter was collected from each recently emerged mosquito, although smaller amounts were recovered with increasing age of the mosquito. Determinations were made of the pH, osmotic pressure, and specific gravity of this hemolymph at various times during the life of the adult mosquito. The values obtained were within the ranges found for other insects. Hemolymph collected from mosquitoes fed on hamsters infected with Plasmodium berghei had different values than hemolymph from mosquitoes fed on noninfected hamsters. This probably was due to differences between the quality of these 2 types of blood meals, rather than to the direct effects of the malaria parasite on the infected mosquito itself.

Chymotrypsin inhibitors from hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Three new protease inhibitors were isolated and purified about 200-fold from hemolymph of silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori, using ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. Two of the three inhibitors were basic proteins (SCI-I had pI 9.4 and SCI-II had pI 9.6) and one was acidic (SCI-III had pI 4.0). The molecular weight of each inhibitor was determined to be 7,000 by the sedimentation equilibrium method. The amino acid composition of the inhibitors were similar except for the contents of Asp, Glu, Ile, Leu, and Lys. Val, His, and Trp were not present in the inhibitors and Met appeared only in SCI-III. The CD spectra of the inhibitors were all similar and indicated a low content of alpha-helical structure (10% at most). Each inhibitor could inhibit the protease and esterase activities of bovine alpha-chymotrypsin at a one-to-one molar ratio, and the dissociation constants were 3.1 X 10(-9)M for SCI-I and II and 1.3 X 10(-8)M for SCI-III. Only SCI-II showed a weak inhibitory activity against bovine trypsin. Subtilisin BPN' and papain were not inhibited by these inhibitors.

Purification and characterization of a juvenile hormone binding protein from the hemolymph of the fourth instar tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

A protein which binds the insect juvenile hormone has been isolated from the hemolymph of the fourth instar tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera). Bioassay and chemical characterization of the bound ligand from the purified binding protein indicates that this molecule is the primary macromolecule responsible for juvenile hormone transport in the hemolymph of this insect. The juvenile hormone binding protein has been purified using gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein is a single polypeptide chain of about 28,000 daltons with a sedimentation coefficient of 2.2S and an isoelectric point of 5.0. Binding analysis using a hydroxyapatite batch assay indicates that the juvenile hormone binding protein has one binding site with a Ka of 1.2 times 10(7) M-1 at 4 degrees C.

[Seasonal changes in myocardial sensitivity to acetylcholine in the molluscs, Anodonta complanata and Anodonta piscinalis]

Seasonal changes in ACh sensitivity have been studied on isolated cardiac muscle of the bivalve molluscs together with ATP content of the hemolymph and the heart. The lowest ACh sensitivity of the heart was found in August and October (KACh in August was equal to 44.0.10(-6) M). Maximum sensitivity was observed in March and at the end of August--the beginning of September (KACh in March was equal to 1.27 X X 10(-6) M); at this period of year, ATP content of the hemolymph decreases approximately 100-fold, the release of ATP from the heart in the presence of ACh being also decreased. Maximum level of ATP in cardiac muscle was found in July. It was demonstrated that most significant changes in ACh sensitivity take place during spawning, especially when sex cells are transported from the gonads into the gills, as well as during the release of glochidia from the latter. Possible causes of seasonal changes in ACh sensitivity of cardiac muscle and the role of ATP in this process are discussed.

[X-ray microanalysis of the fundamental composition of the hemolymph of the mollusk Mytilus edulis]

X-ray microanalysis of the content of Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, S and Mg has been made in ultrasmall samples of haemolymph of the mussel Mytilus edulis living in habitats with lowered salinity. It was shown that the content of potassium in the haemolymph is higher than in the environment, both natural and artificial. Coefficient of potassium accumulation in relation to the environment increases with the decrease of external salinity.

Uptake of horseradish peroxydase by the testis of locusta migratoria during the last larval instar; relation with variations of ecdysteroid levels in haemolymph

By using horseradish peroxydase (HRP) as a tracer, it is shown that the gonial region of the locust testis is an "open" compartment which is almost always freely penetrated by the tracer. During the last larval instar, however, the penetration of HRP decreases and ceases at the time when high levels of ecdysteroids are detected in the haemolymph by radioimmunoassay. A cause and effect relationship between tracer uptake and hormonal level could not be demonstrated by the experiments carried out up to now. From ultrastructural observations of the testis, it is concluded that the temporary isolation of the gonial compartment is not based upon any morphological structure which could act as a barrier. Penetration of the macromolecule is considered as the expression of an active uptake by the testis and the short period of nonpenetrability as a state of inertia whose significance remains to be discovered.