THE EFFECTS OF OPIATES AND OPIOID NEUROPEPTIDES ON MOSQUITO HEMOCYTES

The effects of morphine, Met-enkephalin, and its synthetic analogue DA MA on the hemocytes of Culex pipiens mosquitoes were examined in vitro . Morphine caused the cells to round up and decrease in area. Met-enek ephalin caused the cells to become ameboid and increase in area. This effect was accentuated with the addition of the neutral endopeptidase blocker phosphoramidon. DAMA caused a similar but greater enhancement of immune activation which was blocked by the opiate antagonist, nalox one. These results were similar to those seen in other invertebrate he mocytes.