Cell lineages during development of leeches can be ascertained by injection horseradish peroxidase as a tracer into identified cells at early stages embryogenesis. The injected embryos continue their normal development, in the course which is passed on catalytically active form to descendants cell. distribution enzyme and hence progeny cell then observed later stage staining preparation for peroxidase.

A tuberculated species of turtle leech is indigenous to the Great Dismal Swamp and environs northeastern North Carolina, differs from other known Placobdella. This study hundreds specimens for more than a decade documents its unexpected taxonomic complexity. In fact, this seemingly innocuous undergoes radical transformations in terms morphology behaviour, each adapted different phase life cycle. Biological observations reveal progressive darkening with age which imposes uncertainties....

Novel hirudin variants isolated from the leech Hirudinaria manillensis , a more specialized for mammalian parasitism, are described. Isolation of antithrombin polypeptides was performed by ion‐exchange chromatographies followed an affinity chromatography step on immobilized thrombin. The major active component, polypeptide peak 2 (HM2), and second polypeptide, named HM1, were purified to homogeneity their complete amino acid sequences determined. protein structure two include 64 acids with 6...

Summary Twenty freshwater, one euryhaline, terrestrial, and six marine leeches are now known to occur in the Carolinas. Haemopis septagon, second terrestrial leech discovered North America, five aquatic taxa—Placobdella nuchalis, P. translucens, Mooreobdella melanostoma, M. tetragon, Erpobdella punctata coastalis—are previously undescribed. Specimens of Placobdella papillifera multilineata, examined detail. Four additional species—Batracobdella phalera, B. picta, Helobdella elongata...

The leech Hirudinaria manillensis belongs to the same family as medicinal Hirudo medicinalis, which has been widely used for study of hirudin, a specific thrombin inhibitor. A similar inhibitor now isolated from heads by acetone/acid extraction and further purified near homogeneity ion exchange chromatography followed affinity on – agarose reverse phase HPLC. material was recovered at about 10 - 15% yield had activity 12 000 14 ATU/mg, other hirudin variants. shown be homogenous sodium...

The saliva of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, contains a potent, hitherto unsuspected, inhibitor collagen-mediated platelet adhesion/aggregation. Calin, molecular size approximately 65 000 (reduced), has rapid (1–10 min) effect on collagen which is reflected in its ability to suppress collagen-induced aggregation, as well adhesion platelets collagen-coated microcarrier beads. It also causes flocculation Type I fibril suspensions. Calin differentiated from leech collagenase two ways:...

The life history, fecundity, behavior and feeding habits of the North American leech, Erpobdella punctata, are investigated. There is evidence an upstream migration in early spring. size distribution within populations indicates that growth to maturity took one year a permanent pond, but two years stream, perhaps because stream dried up summer. It seemed few survived second breeding season. Mortality was estimated at about 93%, 73% 93% first, third years, respectively. Intraspecific snail...

1. Crude salivary gland extract of the giant Amazon leech, Haementeria ghilianii, contains an inhibitor plasma factor XIIIa. 2. The inhibitory agent was purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange, cation-exchange, gel-filtration and reverse-phase chromatography yield a single band on SDS/PAGE with apparent molecular mass 7.3 kDa. It has been named tridegin. 3. Micro-sequencing proteolytic fragments showed tridegin be peptide 66 amino acids. sequence is unique little similarity other...

A continuously breeding laboratory colony of the giant leech Haementeria ghilianii has been established from a few specimens collected in French Guyana. The leeches feed on live rabbits or bovine blood, which they draw an artifical feeding device. Leech growth is saltatory, that at each four successive feedings, spaced over about half year, weight specimen increases 3- to 6-fold. male reproductive system this hermaphroditic matures first, body 3-5 g. female after least one more feeding, 8...

Previously enigmatic, ovoid to sac‐like fossils of organic, acid resistant substance which are common components leaf cuticle and megaspore assemblages in limnic terrestrial palaeoen‐ vironments identified as cocoons clitellates. They have been recorded for a long time by palaeobotanists palynologists, particularly the Mesozoic, variously interpreted being megaspore, seed, or algal origins, although convincing homologues were lacking. The agree basic wall construction with clitellates,...

1. The life history of Myzobdella lugubris is described based upon a quantitative study the leech from white catfish, Ictalurus catus, and blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, estuaries Charleston, South Carolina.2. displayed seasonality on fish which inversely correlated with water temperature.3. greatest increase in population occurred during December.

Summary The bite of the medicinal leech bleeds for many hours. For decades it has been assumed that remarkably prolonged bleeding time a wound is due to hirudin, specific anti-thrombin secreted by during feeding. By measuring haematological parameters blood oozing from on 15 different occasions in 7 human volunteers, we demonstrate hirudin-sensitive coagulation parameters, including thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, are only min, after which they return normal. This suggests excess...

1. In January through March, 1971, and to a less extent the same period in 1972 1973, marine leech, Calliobdella carolinensis Sawyer Chamberlain 1972, was epizootic on Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, estuaries of South Carolina. Prior this outbreak (epidemic) leech practically unknown.2. The population dynamics were studied near Charleston, Carolina, for three years, primarily an estuarine creek surf zone exposed beach.3. displays seasonal occurrence which correlates with temperature...

Once abundant throughout its range, the medicinal leech became endangered largely because it was so widely used by doctors for blood-letting in 19th century. France alone imported more than a thousand million over Since then demands research purposes have greatly increased following discovery that this contains potentially very valuable anticoagulant of human blood. Protection species is urgently needed, says author. One school class could unknowingly wipe out whole small remnant population.

We previously showed that the male streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat exhibits decreased circulating testosterone and increased estradiol levels. While supplementation with dihydrotestosterone is partially renoprotective, aim of present study was to examine whether inhibition synthesis, by blocking aromatization using an aromatase inhibitor, can also prevent diabetes-associated renal injury. The performed on Sprague-Dawley nondiabetic, STZ-induced diabetic, rats treated 0.15 mg/kg...

A new genus, Desserobdella, is described to accommodate the leech Clepsine picta Verrill, 1872 which feeds exclusively on amphibians of northern and central North America. This belongs subfamily Glossiphoniinae therefore deposits cocoons directly onto substrate. The genus Desserobdella n.gen. has following diagnostic characteristics: (i) two pairs coalesced eyes; (ii) one pair diffuse salivary glands; (iii) a single saccular mycetomes containing prokaryotic endosymbionts. Members are...

Tridegin is a potent inhibitor of factor XIIIa from the leech, Haementeria ghilianii, which inhibits protein cross-linking. It modifies plasmin-mediated fibrin degradation as shown by absence D-dimer and approximately halves time for fibrinolysis. Plasma clots formed in presence lyse more rapidly when either streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activator or hementin added 2 h after clot formation. The effect markedly increased if are platelet-rich plasma. Platelet-rich plasma lysed much slowly...

Abstract The medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus, 1758 is genotype of the genus and constitutes taxonomic basis for family Hirudinidae even class Hirudinea. In spite its unique significance, H. has never been characterized in terms criteria currently accepted As part a broader revision this species, troctina Johnson, 1816 from North Africa re-described based on foregut internal diagnostic characters. authors confirm that separate species as understood. addition to external...