| Abstract: | A study was made of the effects of pharmacological agents--adrenaline, noradrenaline, serotonine, dibenamine, theophylline, and emidazole--on the phagocytar activity of Dileptus anser. These effects were estimated in terms of food response changes towards chemical food models (CFM) made in cysteine, lecithine or tween-40 solutions. The above pharmacological agents were also tested as phagocytosis inductors. Of these, only adrenalin appeared to be an effective inductor of the food response. The CFM, made in adrenaline, was stimulated by 10(-6) M theophylline, and inhibited with 10(-4)--10(-8) M imidazole. The addition of 10(-3)--10(-12) M adrenaline or 10(-8)--10(-10) M serotonine to the Dileptus-containing medium stimulated phagocytosis of CFM. 5.10(-6) M dibenamin decreased phagocytotic intensity of CFM. 10(-6) M theophylline stimulated, while 10(-4) M inhibited the food response. It is proposed that protozoans have receptors capable of accepting hormones. A possible role of the system of cyclic AMP in transporting hormonal and food stimules in protozoans is discussed. |
