Reformato L S, Kirschenbaum D M, Halpern M
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1983 Feb;18(2):247-54. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(83)90370-2.
Fifteen garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) reliably spent more time and tongue flicked more frequently at a dish containing earthworm extract than a dish containing distilled water when these were presented simultaneously for two minute intervals. The discriminability of the earthworm extract was directly related to its concentration. Garter snakes with their vomeronasal ducts sutured closed did not respond differentially to earthworm extract and water under these test conditions. Thus their ability to discriminate earthworm extract from water in this bioassay was dependent upon a functional vomeronasal system. Earthworm extract retains its biological activity after boiling at 100 degrees C for 15 minutes and after lyophilization. Its effectiveness is not altered by changes in pH. Snakes continued to respond differentially to extracts with pH 2, 5-6 or 11. Chloroform extractions of the acid, neutral and alkaline earthworm extract yielded activity primarily in the water layer. The small amount of activity in the chloroform layer was removed by use of a drying agent. Bradford dye-binding tests indicated the presence of protein in the active fractions.
当同时以两分钟的间隔分别呈现装有蚯蚓提取物的盘子和装有蒸馏水的盘子时，15条束带蛇（美洲束带蛇）可靠地在装有蚯蚓提取物的盘子上花费了更多时间，并且舌头舔动得更频繁。蚯蚓提取物的可辨别性与其浓度直接相关。在这些测试条件下，鼻腭管被缝合封闭的束带蛇对蚯蚓提取物和水没有差异反应。因此，在这种生物测定中，它们从水中辨别蚯蚓提取物的能力取决于一个功能性的鼻腭系统。蚯蚓提取物在100摄氏度下煮沸15分钟并冻干后仍保留其生物活性。其有效性不会因pH值的变化而改变。蛇对pH值为2、5 - 6或11的提取物仍有差异反应。对酸性、中性和碱性蚯蚓提取物进行氯仿萃取后，活性主要存在于水层。氯仿层中的少量活性通过使用干燥剂去除。考马斯亮蓝染色法测试表明活性组分中存在蛋白质。
