Urate protects a blood-sucking insect against hemin-induced oxidative stress

Urate at high concentrations (up to 5 mM) is found in the hemolymph of the blood-sucking bug, Rhodnius prolixus. Increased urate levels are observed in the days following a blood meal. Injecting hemin into the hemocoel increases both urate titer and TBARS formation in the hemolymph. The urate response to hemin injection seems to arise from increased synthesis by the fat body as urate secretion by this organ is stimulated in vitro by incubation with hemin, and markedly counteracted by allopurinol. Allopurinol injection also results in increased TBARS formation in the hemolymph. High O2 atmospheric conditions also increases hemolymph urate levels, confirming that urate release represents an antioxidant response. Urate concentrations at the range reported here might account for almost all free radical scavenging activity of the hemolymph, as deduced from TRAP assay experiments, indicating that this is the major low molecular weight protection of this insect against oxidative insult. Since large amounts of hemin are produced in the midgut following blood digestion, increased urate hemolymph levels are suggested to be an important protective biochemical adaptation to allow blood feeding.