Gastrointestinal hormones: environmental cues for Fasciola hepatica?
The effects of pharmacological concentrations of several gastrointestinal hormones on the rate of sucker activity and the frequency and the amplitude of spontaneous longitudinal muscle contractions have been examined in adult Fasciola hepatica. Caerulein and serum decrease the rate of oral sucker activity; motilin decreases and CCK-PZ increases ventral sucker activity when compared to controls. Caerulein, serum and motilin significantly inhibit the frequency of contractions while bile, caerulein and motilin decrease the amplitude of contractions. These results suggest that F. hepatica can recognize and respond to certain gastrointestinal hormones and there may be adaptive value in these behavioural responses.
Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Sukhdeo
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Sukhdeo
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009037:Motilin / Q000494:pharmacology
D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D009037:Motilin; D002108:Ceruletide; D002766:Cholecystokinin