水蛭的研究概况及展望

系统总结了近年来对水蛭的化学、药理、临床及毒性的研究概况 ,并展望了水蛭未来的发展前景     

A new stylochid flatworm (Platyhelminthes,Polycladida) from Victoria,Australia and observations on its biology

There are only four polyclad flatworms currently known from temperate waters of Victoria, Australia, although these turbellarians are common inhabitants of rocky shores. A new stylochid flatworm, Stylochus pygmaeus sp. nov. (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida) or oyster leech is described here from Port Philip Bay, Victoria. This flatworm was observed feeding on three species of barnacles by extending its pharynx over its prey and extruding copious amounts of mucus. Worms also preferred to prey on larger‐sized barnacles regardless of the species. Further observations indicated that these worms deposited eggs at night inside empty barnacle shells. Each eggmass was brooded for several days with the worms only moving off to feed. Each egg capsule contained multiple embryos and after 5 or 6 days, positively photo‐tactic, four‐lobed Götte's larvae emerged. Larvae metamorphosed to juvenile flatworms 1–2 weeks post‐hatching but failed to settle and survive.     

Culture of a new medicinal leech: growth,survival and reproduction of Hirudo orientalis Utevsky and Trontelj, 2005 under laboratory conditions

The increasing demands for medicinal leeches around the world has increased the need for new sources of leeches. To assess the feasibility of culturing a new medicinal leech species, growth, survival and reproduction of Hirudo orientalis was investigated under laboratory conditions (28°C; 9.5D:14.5L light regime; monthly feeding by sheep blood) from hatching until sexual maturity. Several interesting results emerged from this study. (1) The first copulation was observed in 5.5-month-old leeches and cocoon deposition started by six months. (2) Cocoon length and diameter did not differ significantly between six- and nine-month-old leeches, but the percentage of leeches depositing cocoons was significantly higher in the nine-month old group. (3) The growth curve was saltatory, similar to other sanguivorous species. The mean (±SE) wet weight of 6-month-old individuals was 4.70 (±0.86) g. (4) Weight gain rate decreased with increasing age. (5) Mortality only occurred in the one-, seven- and eight-month age groups at the rate of 5.7%, 23.1% and 14.3%, respectively.     

分光光度法测定盐源山蛭素对凝血酶的抑制活性

报告了一实用的凝血酶抑制剂抑制活性的测定方法——发色底物分光光度法；以发色底物S—2238与标准凝血酶反应，测定未抑制的吸光度Ao，同时以发色底物S—2238与凝血酶抑制剂盐源山蛭素和标准凝血酶反应测定抑制吸光度As，然后以As／Ao计算盐源山蛭素的抑制活性a1．实验证明，这种对盐源山蛭素抑制活性的测定方法简便易行、重复性高、偶然误差小、可信度高．     

Presence of a partial urea cycle in the leech,Poecilobdella granulosa

Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) and arginase, but not arginine synthetase (AS), were detected in the body wall and gut tissues of the leech. The activities of these enzymes were not altered by starvation. The high activity of arginase in body wall is probably due to the association of the latter with botryoidal tissue. Hirudineans, which evolved from oligochaete ancestors, appear to have lost the citrulline-arginine segment of the urea cycle due to their ammonotelic mode of nitrogen excretion.S. N. and B. J. thank the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and the Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, respectively for the award of research fellowships.