Proteolytic activity in the ectoperitrophic fluid of blood-fed Culex nigripalpus.

In blood-fed Culex nigripalpus Theobald, proteolytic activity appeared in the ectoperitrophic fluid after 3 h, but only after 6 h in a homogenate of the blood-filled midgut. The activity continued to be higher in ectoperitrophic fluid than in whole gut homogenate until about 40 h after the meal, when most of the intact clot had disappeared. Apparently, undigested blood inhibits proteolytic activity. The blood clot lacked activity and the inhibitor could not be removed by washing. The results are compatible with a hypothesis that the peritrophic membrane separates the digestion from the ingestion compartment.