THE AMINO ACID POOL OF THE MEDICAL LEECH (HIRUDO MEDICINALIS L) SALIVARY GLAND SECRETION
The amino acid pool of the medical leech salivary gland secretion was studied on the specimens from natural populations and those bred at a biofactory (in artifical conditions). In the salivary gland secretion the number of free essential amino acids was much more than in the leech tissues. For the leech bred at the biofactory, in creased levels of S - containing amino acids (cysteine, methionine, taurine, cysteic acid), participating in detoxication, antioxidants and immunostimulants were discovered in the salivary gland secretion. Besides, we noted higher levels of aromatic amino acids - precursors of highly biologically active biogenic amines.