Work in the last decade has shown that crustacean open circulatory systems are highly efficient and controlled in a complex manner. Control occurs at several levels. Myocardial contraction is initiated in the cardiac ganglion but constantly modulated by the central nervous system, both directly via the cardioregulatory nerves and indirectly via the neurohormonal system. Heart rate and stroke vo...

This study investigates (by means of bioassays and ELISA using an antibody against recombinant cHH) the variation of cHH levels in the eyestalks and haemolymph of Palaemon elegans (Decapoda, Caridea) following exposure to various stresses (heavy metals and lipopolysaccharide), and correlates them with the variation in amount and time course of blood glucose. The dose-relationship between exposu...

Immune defence in creel-caught and trawled Nephrops norvegicus was investigated to assess a possible relationship between phenoloxidase (PO) activation and the total haemocyte count (THC). Capture, capture method and emersion evoked physiological and immunological responses that may have implications for the ability of N. norvegicus to survive the effects of such stressors. Haemolymph THC was a...

Adult male Cancer magister (Dana) were equipped with pulsed-Doppler flowmeters and pressure transducers for simultaneous measurement of heart and ventilation frequencies, haemolymph flow through each of the major arterial systems and cardiac output and for calculation of stroke volume. Each variable was measured at rest and during two consecutive periods of moderate treadmill walking activity a...

The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, has emerged as a model species for invasion biology, reflecting its remarkable capacity to outcompete native ladybird species when introduced into new habitats. This ability may be associated with its prominent resistance to pathogens and intraguild predation. We recently showed that the constitutive antibacterial activity present in the haemolymph of ...

Extracellular Cu/Zn superoxide dismutases (SODs) are critical for balancing the level of reactive oxygen species in the extracellular matrix of eukaryotes. In the present study we have detected constitutive SOD activity in the haemolymph and defensive secretions of different leaf beetle species. Exemplarily, we have chosen the mustard leaf beetle, Phaedon cochleariae, as representative model or...

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is involved in the regulation of feeding and digestion in many animals from worms to mammals. In insects, 5-HT functions both as a neurotransmitter and as a systemic hormone. Here we tested its role as a neurotransmitter in feeding and crop contractions and its role as a systemic hormone that affected feeding in adult foraging honeybees. We found 5-HT immun...

oral supplementation with potassium bromide (10, 20 and 40 ?g/ml) to fifth instar larvae of csr2, csr4 and csr2xcsr4 crossbreed races of the silkworm, bombyx mori resulted in a significant increase in the fat body glycogen in all the treated groups and in all the three races of the silkworm, b. mori. the fat body protein content was increased with 20 and 40 ?g/ml treated groups in csr2 and csr4...

The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri possesses an innate immunity, which plays fundamental roles in its survival, adaptability, worldwide spread and ecological success. Three lines of differentiation pathways circulating haemocytes are known to be present the haemolymph, starting from undifferentiated haemoblasts: (i) phagocytic line (hyaline amoebocytes macrophage-like cells), (ii) cytot...

Evidence for the involvement of a Bemisia tabaci GroEL homologue in the transmission of tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (TYLCV) is presented. A approximately 63-kDa protein was identified in B. tabaci whole-body extracts using an antiserum raised against aphid Buchnera GroEL. The GroEL homologue was immunolocalized to a coccoid-shaped whitefly endosymbiont. The 30 N-terminal amino acids of ...