M. Kazimirova et M. Slovak, EFFECTS OF HEAVY-METALS AND FLUORINE ON PHAGOCYTOSIS AND PHENOLOXIDASE ACTIVITY IN MAMESTRA-BRASSICAE (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE), European journal of entomology, 93(3), 1996, pp. 467-473
Phagocytic response to injected iron saccharate and yeast cells (heat-
killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae or viable Candida tropicalis) and haem
olymph phenoloxidase (PO) activity were studied im Mamestra brassicae
larvae fed on diets contaminated by copper, lead, cadmium of fluorine
ions. In copper-stressed larvae, increased and reduced percentage of p
lasmatocytes and granular cells, respectively, and a reduced phagocyto
sis of iron saccharate were found. Cadmium- and fluorine-treatment red
uced phagocytosis of S. cerevisiae. Cadmium showed a stimulatory effec
t, copper an inhibitory effect on phagocytosis of C. tropicalis. PO ac
tivity was reduced by all toxicants, in copper-stressed larvae it reac
hed only 22% of the activity in the control.