Effect of plasma components on the feeding response of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L. to adenine nucleotides

ABSTRACT. The gorging response of Aedes aegypti to the ATP dissolved in platelet-poor plasma is greater than that of ATP dissolved in 0.15 m NaCl. The plasma components NaHCO₃ and albumin account for the full effect of the potentiation. Phosphate or tris buffers do not duplicate the bicarbonate effect. In 0.15 m NaCl with bicarbonate but lacking albumin the concentrations inducing 50% feeding are 58 μM ATP, 140 μM ADP, 460 μM AMP and 1500 μM cAMP. Non-adenine nucleotides such as ITP and GTP and phytic acid, and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid had no activity.