Étude immunochimique des protéines hémolymphatiques et ovocytaires de Rhodnius prolixus (Stål.)

Haemolymph and egg proteins of Rhodnius prolixus have been investigated by immunological and electrophoretic methods. Vitellogenin, which was immunologically identical with the yolk protein, was found in egg-maturing females but also in haemolymph of fed males. Continuous gradient gel electrophoresis of egg yolk revealed two predominant proteins (proteins A and B) stained with Sudan black find periodic acid – Schiff's reagent, and the molecular weights were estimated to be 260 000 ± 20 000 (protein A) and 430 000 ± 30 000 (protein B). These two lipo-glycoproteins were also found in both male and female haemolymph. Other glycoproteins or lipoproteins were found in larvae and adult haemolymph. No vitellogenin has been identified by immunological methods in fifth-instar larvae haemolymph 5 days after feeding. However two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis showed that the onset of synthesis of this protein in a small amount began approximately 15 days after the blood meal.