The Effects of Temperature on the Labellar Chemoreceptors of the Blowfly

In the labellar chemosensory hairs of the blowfly, Phormia regina Meigen, stationary amplitudes of the slow potentials induced by salt and sugar stimulations were decreased to 50-80% at 12 degrees C of the values measured at 28 degrees C. The amplitudes induced by water did not show any dependence on temperature change. The maximum rate of rise of the receptor potentials was strongly increased with rising temperature. The value of K(b), the apparent Michaelis constant, was less by a factor of six at 28 degrees C compared to the 12 degrees C value for the sugar receptor.