Studies on l-glutamate in insect haemolymph.

ABSTRACT. l -Glutamate when injected into the haemolymph of Lucilia sericata larvae and adult male Locusta migratoria was rapidly removed by uptake mechanisms to other tissues in the insect. Data from Lucilia larvae indicate that following uptake glutamate is metabolized and the metabolites are secreted back into the haemolymph. l -Aspartate injected into the haemolymph of Lucilia larvae was also rapidly removed. When both l -aspartate and l -glutamate were injected simultaneously, the rate of glutamate removal was significantly reduced. It is concluded that glutamate and aspartate share the same uptake mechanisms. l -Leucine injected into Lucilia larvae and Locusta was removed at a significantly slower rate than glutamate or aspartate.