Chemosensitivity of Philophthalmus megalurus (Trematoda) miracidia.
Miracidia of the eyefluke Philophthalmus megalurus were tested in phi-chambers to determine if they reacted similarly to chemicals found stimulative for miracidia of Philophthalmus gralli, a closely related species. Philophthalmus megalurus miracidia were less responsive than P. gralli to the dicarboxylic amino acids and showed a significantly positive response only to 10 mM glutamic acid. These P. megalurus miracidia were chemonegative to 10 mM HCl and H2SO4, chemicals to which P. gralli miracidia gave a significantly positive response. Ammonia and Mg2+ did not elicit any response from P. megalurus miracidia.
Nollen
P M
PM
Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Macomb 61455.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002633:Chemotaxis; D014200:Trematoda / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000596:Amino Acids