Diphosphoglycerate and phytic acid as feeding stimulants for the blood-feeding bug Rhodnius prolixus.
1. The compounds 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), phytic acid (PA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were tested as gorging stimulants for Rhodnius prolixus. All three are potent phagostimulants, with ED50 values less than 10 microM; in contrast, only ATP stimulates the black fly Simulium venustum, with an ED50 of 13 microM. 2. Equimolar mixtures of DPG and ATP showed pronounced synergism, causing 75% of test R. prolixus to gorge at a dose of 0.3 microM. 3. The response to DPG and PA supports the hypothesis that R. prolixus detects blood during biting by tasting signal chemicals released from red blood cells.
D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000187:drug effects*; D014225:Triatominae / Q000187:drug effects*
D004163:Diphosphoglyceric Acids; D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D010833:Phytic Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate