Adipokinetic Hormone, Flight Metabolism, Hippoteon eson, Imbrasia cytherea, Bombyx mori Methanolic extracts from corpora cardiaca of three moth species, Hippoteon eson (Sphingi­ dae), Imbrasia cytherea (Saturniidae) and Bombyx mori (Bombycidae) show adipokinetic activity in conspecific bioassays. Haemolymph carbohydrates in these moths are not affected. These extracts are also active in heterol...

In the present study, we show the isolation and characterization of the protein haemoporin, which constitutes the second most abundant protein fraction in the haemolymph of the marine gastropod Aplysia californica. Although Aplysia is commonly used to investigate the molecular basis of learning, not much is known about the proteins in its haemolymph, which is in contact with the neurons owing t...

The effects of temperature (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 °C) and of anoxia (at 5 °C) on extracellular Mg2+ concentration ([Mg2+]e), intracellular pH (pHi) and ATP and lactate levels were investigated in intermoult adults of the common shrimp Crangon crangon. All animals caught in summer (summer animals) showed a slight but significant increase in [Mg2+]e at low temperatures. In contrast, at ever...

Host innate immunity is one of the factors that determines the resistance of insects to their entomopathogens. In the research reported here we studied whether or not phenoloxidase (PO), a key enzyme in the melanogenesis component of humoral immunity of insects, plays a role in the protection of Lymantria dispar larvae from infection by L. dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. We studied two ty...

The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity has been used widely as a biomarker of exposure to organophosphorous pesticides (OPs). However, scientific uncertainty about the risk assessment implications of data describing inhibition of cholinesterases in diverse species and tissues has hampered the use of AChE activity as a biomarker of adverse effect. Here, haemolymph AChE activity w...

The combined effect of the trematode infection (Echinoparyphium sp.) and various concentrations of chromium sulphate (0.01, 1, 100 mg/l) onto the crude protein content in the haemolymph of the mollusc Viviparus viviparus was investigated. The normal contents of the crude protein is 0.7-1.22%. In adult specimens its concentration is 20-80% higher than in molluscs of junior age group. Sex differe...

We evaluated extracts taken from S. magellanica third instar larvae fat body and haemolymph using a diabetic rabbit model and compared this to the effect obtained with the same substances taken from Lucilia sericata larvae. Alloxan (a toxic glucose analogue) was used to induce experimental diabetes in twelve rabbits. Dorsal wounds were made in each animal and they were infected with Staphylococ...

1. Models developed to predict behavioural and life-history decisions of parasitoids rely heavily on assumptions concerning the nature and function of the nutrients that the female obtains from the host. 2. Using a combination of colorimetric and thin-layer chromatography techniques, we analysed the composition of the host-feeding fluid consumed by the parasitoid Eupelmus vuilletti and found it...

Terrestrial arthropods, at constant risk from desiccation, are highly sensitive to atmospheric temperature and humidity. A physiological marker of these abiotic conditions could highlight phenotypic adaptations, indicate niche partitioning, and predict responses to climate change for a group representing three-quarters of the Earth's animal species. We show that the (18)O composition of insect ...

A recently isolated haemolymph protein appears to be an important regulator of ecdysone biosynthesis by prothoracic glands in Manduca sexta. Using a dose-response titration protocol, the haemolymph titre of this stimulatory factor was determined during the last larval instar. The titre was high (greater than 2.0 U ml-1) on days 0 and 1, then dropped significantly to 0.55 U ml-1 on day 2, and re...