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Role of Blood Platelets in Haematophagy

Nature New Biology volume 233, pages 110–111 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

RED blood corpuscles (RBC) suspended in saline induce gorging in many haematophagous insects because of their high intrinsic concentration of adenine nucleotides (ANS)1–6. ANS are bound firmly inside the intact RBC, which raises the question of how they gain egress to contact the chemoreceptor surfaces and induce feeding. It has been suggested that saliva or secretions of the chemoreceptor surfaces act as ANS releasing agents1. ANS release by haemolysis is discounted by the fact that all RBC found in the gut immediately after feeding are intact. Further, stereoscan electron microscopy of tsetse fly gustatory sensilla does not suggest that they operate by piercing the erythrocytes7,8. Thus we decided to test the possibility that the chemoreceptors involved in blood identification receive an ANS stimulus from a source associated with, but not within the RBC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona

    RACHEL GALUN

  2. Physiology Department, Medical School, Makerere University, Kampala

    M. J. RICE

Authors
  1. RACHEL GALUN
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  2. M. J. RICE
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GALUN, R., RICE, M. Role of Blood Platelets in Haematophagy. Nature New Biology 233, 110–111 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio233110a0

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