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.