Response to parenteral stimulation in earthworms L. terrestris and E. foetida

Injection of different protein molecules into the coelomic cavity of Eisenia foetida (E.F.) and Lumbricus terrestris (L.T.) markedly stimulated proteosynthesis. A similar but less pronounced increase of coelomic proteins was induced by phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In the coelomic fluids of stimulated animals a protein was detected which significantly bound to the 125I or peroxidase labelled protein molecules used for stimulation. The maximal binding occurred on day 8 after primary stimulation. A greater increase was observed after secondary stimulation. The degree of binding specificity appeared to be much lower than that of vertebrate lymphocyte receptors or antibodies.