ISSN:
1420-9071
Keywords:
Dorsal vessel
;
heart
;
insect
;
serotonin
;
octopamine
;
inhibition
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The dorsal vessel of the blood feeding insect,Rhodnius prolixus, was found to increase or decrease its rate of contraction in response to a number of different stimuli. Handling increased contraction rates whereas tactile stimulation of the ventral abdominal cuticle inhibited contraction. Injection of very low concentrations of serotonin or of high concentrations of octopamine enhanced the inhibitory effect, apparently by acting via the nervous system. Higher concentrations of serotonin increased heart rate by acting directly on the myocardium. The inhibitory response is suggested to be one facet of a generalised thigmotactic response.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01948003
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