Abstract
Gorging is stimulated in some insects by plasma components alone. In other insects engorgement is maximal only when blood cell components are present in addition to the plasma. Plasma components recognized by insects are NaCl, NaHC03 (some anopheline mosquitoes) and albumin (Anopheles dims and Pediculus humanus). Those requiring blood cells recognize this fraction by its adenine nucleotides which, for optimal engorgement, have to be offered in the presence of isotonic NaCl solution buffered by NaHC03 (i.e. Rhodnius, culicine mosquitoes, Simulium, tsetse and Tabanus). The presence of albumin in the feeding medium may lower the level of nucleotides required to induce gorging (i.e. Aedes). For most haematophagous insects requiring the cellular fraction, ATP is the most effective phagostimulant. It may however be replaced quite effectively by non-hydrolyzable analogues, indicating that ATP is not essential as a source of energy for the gustatory receptors involved in blood meal recognition.
Résumé
L’engorgement est stimulé chez certains insectes seulement par les composants du plasma. Chez d’autres insectes l’engorgement maximal n’est obtenu qu’en présence des composants des cellules du sang, en plus de ceux du plasma. Les composants du plasma reconnus par les insectes sont NaCl, NaHCO3 (certains anophèles) et l’albumine (Anopheles dirus et Pediculus humanus). Les insectes exigeant la présence des cellules du sang, reconnaissent cette fraction à ses nucléotides d’adenine. Pour que l’engorgement soit maximal ceux-ci doivent être présentés dans une solution tampon physiologique (NaCl/NaHCO3 ) (p.e. Rhodnius, culicidés, Simulium, mouches tsé-tsé et Tabanus). La présence d’albumine dans le milieu nutritif peut abaisser le niveau des nucleotides nécessaire pour provoquer l’engorgement (p.e. Aedes). Pour la plupart des insectes hematophages qui exigent la fraction cellulaire, l’ATP est le phagostimulant le plus efficace. On peut cependant le remplacer par des analogues non hydrolysables tout aussi efficaces. Ceci indique que l’ATP n’est pas une source d’énergie essentielle pour les récepteurs gustatifs concernés dans la reconnaissance du sang.
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Galun, R. Regulation of Blood Gorging. Int J Trop Insect Sci 8, 623–625 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400022700
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400022700