Knowledge Bank

The hemolymph of both the potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, and the false potato beetle, Leptinotarsa juncta, injected intraperitoneally into white rats produced deviant physiological responses. Monitoring showed a decrease in injected rats' temperatures. Injected rats showed an increase in serum glucose and serum urea. An increase in the serum-enzyme activity of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminace, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, and lactic dehydrogenase also occurred. Fluctuations in serum ions showed a decrease in sodium concentration, but an increase in levels of potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Beetle-hemolymph injections appeared to cause a change in the rats' hemic tissue intergrity. Perturbation of the hemic integrity resulted in a state of shock which resembled anaphylactic shock.