LIPOPHORIN LEVELS IN THE YELLOW-FEVER MOSQUITO, AEDES-AEGYPTI AND THEEFFECT OF FEEDING

High density lipophorin (HDLp) is the major lipid transport vehicle in insect hemolymph. Using an indirect ELISA, levels of HDLp were measur ed in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. The level of lipophori n, when normalized to the total weight of the insect, was similar in t he different developmental stages. Starvation (access to water only) o f adult females did not affect the level of HDLp nor its density when compared to sugar-fed females. On the other hand, blood feeding (of no rmally sugar-fed females) resulted in a three-fold increase of the HDL p level at 40 h after feeding. This increase was accompanied by a slig ht but significant increase in the density of HDLp at 24 h after feedi ng. Ingestion of a lipid-free protein meal or a lipid-supplemented pro tein meal induced changes in HDLp level and density that were comparab le to those induced by ingestion of a blood meal. Ingestion of a blood meal, following starvation (access to water only) from the moment of adult emergence, did nor induce an increase in HDLp level. The results presented indicate that, in contrast to other insect species, A. aegy pti responds to an increased need for lipid transport in the hemolymph by increasing the amount of HDLp. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.