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METHODS OF MEASURING BLOOD MEAL SIZE AND PROTEINASE ACTIVITY FOR DETERMINING EFFECTS OF MATED STATE ON DIGESTIVE PROCESSES OF FEMALE AEDES AEGYPTI (L.) (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Jon G. Houseman
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
A.E.R. Downe
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6

Abstract

Two techniques for measuring size of ingested blood meal and 5 methods of measuring proteinase activity in the midgut of Aedes aegypti are compared. Protein, measured after trichloroacetic acid precipitation, was found to be most suitable for determining blood meal size and loss of protein from the gut. Of 5 proteinase substrates tested (BAPNA (benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide), hemoglobin, casein, azocasein, and hide powder azure), BAPNA was considered most suitable for trypsin measurements. These techniques were used to show that virgin females, 6 and 10 days after eclosion, consumed smaller meals than mated females. Virgin females also showed delays in both onset of protein loss from the gut and the increase in proteinase activity after blood feeding.

Résumé

On a comparé 2 techniques pour déterminer la quantité de sang ingérée et 5 méthodes pour mesurer l’activité d’une protéinase dans l’intestin moyen de Aedes aegypti. Après précipitation avec l’acide trichloroacétique, les protéines furent jugées appropriées pour évaluer la quantité de sang ingérée de même que pour mesurer la perte de protéines à partir de l’intestin. Des 5 substrats de protéinase testés (le BAPNA (benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroaniline), l’hémoglobine, la caséine, l’azocaséine et le “hide powder azure”), le BAPNA fut considéré comme le plus approprié pour mesurer la trypsine. Ces techniques furent utilisées pour démontrer que les femelles vierges, 6 et 10 jours après leur émergence consomment moins que les femelles accouplées. Les femelles vierges commencent plus tard à perdre des protéines de l’intestin de même qu’à montrer une augmentation de l’activité de la protéinase après un repas.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1986

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