The invasion of the midgut of the mosquito Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 by the helminth Litomosoides chagasfilhoi Moraes Neto, Lanfredi and De Souza, 1997

The Litomosoides chagasfilhoi helminth was studied as a model for microfilaria invasion of the midgut of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito, vector of Wuchereria bancrofti helminth, causative agent of the human filariasis. Histology and transmission and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to show the topography of mosquito midgut invasion by the helminth. An analysis of midguts dissected at different time points after a blood meal demonstrated that the microfilariae interacted and crossed the peritrophic matrix and the midgut epithelium of C. quinquefasciatus. The microfilariae invaded preferentially the mosquito abdominal midgut and the invasion process occurred between 2 and 3h after the blood feeding. In some cases, microfilariae caused an opening in the midgut that separated the epithelial cells, while in others cases, the worms caused the detachment of cells from the epithelium. Ultimately, L. chagasfilhoi crossing activity appeared to damage the midgut. It was also observed that the microfilariae lost their sheaths during their passage through the fibrous material of the peritrophic matrix, before they reached the midgut epithelium. Since the exsheathment process is necessary for the continuity of larvae development, it seems that the passage through the peritrophic matrix is an important step for the parasite's life cycle. This experimental model revealed details of the interaction process of helminthes within the vector midgut, contributing to the knowledge of factors involved in the vector competence of C. quinquefasciatus as a vector of filariasis.     

Cathepsin L participates in the remodeling of the midgut through dissociation of midgut cells and activation of apoptosis via caspase-1

The larval midgut in holometabolous insects must undergo a remodeling process during metamorphosis to form the pupal-adult midgut. However, the molecular mechanism of larval midgut cell dissociation remains unknown. Here, we show that the expression and activity of Helicoverpa armigera cathepsin L (Har-CatL) are high in the midgut at the mid-late stage of the 6th-instar larvae and are responsive to the upstream hormone ecdysone. Immunocytochemistry shows that signals for Har-CatL-like are localized in midgut cells, and an inhibitor experiment demonstrates that Har-CatL functions in the dissociation of midgut epithelial cells. Mechanistically, Har-CatL can cleave pro-caspase-1 into the mature peptide, thereby increasing the activity of caspase-1, which plays a key role in apoptosis, indicating that Har-CatL is also involved in the apoptosis of midgut cells by activating caspase-1. We believe that this is the first report that Har-CatL regulates the dissociation and apoptosis of the larval midgut epithelium for midgut remodeling.     

棉铃虫6龄幼虫中肠与脂肪体微粒体P450酶系的比较

报道了棉铃虫6龄幼虫中肠和脂肪体微粒体P450酶系的组成与加单氧酶活性。与脂肪体微粒体相比,中肠策粒体具有更高的细胞色素P450,细胞色素b5和NADPH－细胞色素P450还原酶含量,表现出较高的艾氏剂环氧化酶和对－硝基苯甲醚O－脱甲基酶活性。SDS－PAGE电泳显示,中肠与脂肪体微粒体介于P450分子量范围内（45－60kDa)的蛋白图谱有所不同,反映出中肠和脂肪体微粒体蛋白组成存在差异。通过对－硝基苯甲醚O－脱甲基酶的动力学分析发现脂肪体微粒体的对－硝基苯甲醚O－脱甲基酶对底物有更强的亲和性,表明不同组织来源的P450同功酶存在质的不同。     

中国对虾中肠的超微结构与细胞化学研究

(1)在透射电镜下观察中国对虾 (PenaeuschinensisOsbeck)中肠肠壁的超微结构。结果显示 :中国对虾中肠肠壁由内向外依次为上皮细胞层、结缔组织层、肌层和结缔组织层四层结构。中肠上皮有明、暗两种细胞 ,以暗细胞占多数 ,两种上皮细胞都具有从肠腔吸收营养物质和向结缔组织中转运营养物质的功能。 (2 )运用酶细胞化学技术 ,显示中肠组织细胞中的酸性磷酸酶 (ACP)和酚氧化酶 (PO)活性 ,电镜观察显示 :ACP阳性反应出现在明细胞顶部的圆形小泡和明、暗两种细胞的溶酶体中 ,暗细胞顶部聚集着大量ACP阴性反应的酶原颗粒 ,酶原颗粒主要由暗细胞合成并分泌。PO颗粒出现在患病虾肠壁结缔组织内解体的颗粒细胞上和游离于结缔组织中。结缔组织除具有维持上皮细胞的形态、贮存营养物质的功能 ,还在对虾免疫反应中发挥作用     

Leu-callatostatin gene expression in the blowflies Calliphora vomitoria and Lucilia cuprina studied by in situ hybridisation: comparison with Leu-callatostatin confocal laser scanning immunocytochemistry

In situ hybridisation studies using a digoxigenin-labelled DNA probe encoding the Leu-callatostatin prohormone of the blowflies Calliphora vomitoria and Lucilia cuprina have revealed a variety of neurones in the brain and thoracico-abdominal ganglion, peripheral neurosecretory neurones, and endocrine cells of the midgut. With two exceptions, the hybridising cells are the same as those previously identified in immunocytochemical studies of sections and whole-mounts using Leu-callatostatin COOH-terminal-specific antisera. Within the brain and suboesophageal ganglion, there is a variety of neurones ranging from a single pair of large cells situated in the dorsal protocerebrum, to the several pairs of neurones in the tritocerebrum, some of which, in immunocytochemical preparations, can be seen to project via axons in the cervical connective to the thoracico-abdominal ganglion. In the medulla of the optic lobes, numerous small interneurones hybridise with the probe, as do clusters of similar-sized neurones close to the roots of the ocellar nerves. These results indicate that the Leu-callatostatin neuropeptides of the brain play a variety of roles in neurotransmission and neuromodulation. There are only three pairs of Leu-callatostatin-immunoreactive neurones in the thoracico-abdominal ganglion, at least two pairs of which project axons along the median abdominal nerve to provide extensive innervation of the hindgut. The Leu-callatostatin peripheral neurosecretory cells are located in close association with both nerve and muscle fibres in the thorax. In addition to neuronal Leu-callatostatin, the presence of the peptide and its mRNA has been demonstrated in endocrine cells in the posterior part of the midgut. These observations provide an example of a named brain/gut peptide in an insect.     

Ecdysone 20-monooxygenase in a cricket,Gryllus bimaculatus (Ensifera,Gryllidae)—characterization of the microsomal midgut steroid hydroxylase in adult females

Summary Ecdysone 20-monooxygenase, the enzyme system which converts ecdysone into 20-hydroxyecdysone, was characterized in the midgut of 4-day-old female adult Gryllus bimaculatus using an in vitro radioassay. Differential centrifugation and sucrose gradient centrifugation revealed that ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity is associated with the microsomal fractions. The 20-monooxygenase was found to be most active in potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.8, at an osmolarity of 100 mOsm and at 39 °C assay temperature. The conversion of ecdysone into 20-hydroxyecdysone was linear over an incubation period of 12 min and with respect to a protein concentration of 3 mg·ml^–1. K⁺ and Na⁺ (10^–3–10^–1 M), Ca²⁺ (2.3 mM), and EDTA (1–5 mM) did not affect monooxygenase activity, whereas Mg²⁺ (2.3–10 mM) slightly inhibited enzyme activity. The enzyme complex has an apparent K_m for ecdysone of 3.7·10^–7 M and is competitively inhibited by its product, 20-hydroxyecdysone, with an apparent K_i of 4·10^–6 M. The cytochrome P-450 nature of the steroid hydroxylase was shown by its obligate requirement for NADPH and its inhibition by carbon monoxide, metyrapone, and p-chloromercuribenzoate, but not by cyanide. The insect systemic growth disruptor, azadirachtin, was found to inhibit ecdysone 20-monooxygenase activity with a I₅₀ of 8·10^–4 M. From the CO-difference spectrum, a cytochrome P-450 content of 285 pmol·mg protein^–1 was calculated for midgut microsomes of 4-day-old females.Abbreviations GO carbon monoxide - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - I ₅₀ concentration for 50% inhibition - KCN potassium cyanide - K ₁ inhibition constant - K _m Michaelis-Menten constant - MOPS 3-morpholinopropanesulfonic acid - NADH/NAD ⁺ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced/oxidized - NADPH/NADP ⁺ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced/oxidized - Na ₂ S ₂ O ₄ sodium dithionite - SEM Standard error of mean - TLC thin-layer chromatography - TRIS 2-amino 2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol (trishydroxymethyl aminomethane) - V _max maximal reaction velocity     

Enzymatic properties of α-amylase in the midgut and the salivary glands of mulberry moth, Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The pyralid moth, Glyphode pyloalis Walker, is an important pest of the mulberry. Amylases are the hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the α-D-(1,4)-glucan linkage in glycogen and other related carbohydrates. Laboratory-reared fifth stadium larvae were randomly selected; the midgut (MG) and the salivary glands (SG) were removed by dissection under a dissecting microscope and α-amylase activity was assayed using the dinitrosalicylic acid procedure. The activity of α-amylase in the MG and the SG were 0.011 and 0.0018 μmol/min, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature for α-amylase were 9 for MG at 37–40 °C and 10 for SG at 37 °C respectively. Various concentrations of compounds (NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂, Urea, EDTA, SDS and CaCl₂) had differential effects on the enzyme activity. Plant amylase inhibitors may play an important role against insect pests. Hence, the characterization of digestive enzymes and the examination of their inhibitors may be a useful tool in future management of this important mulberry pest.     

Autophagic activity in the midgut gland of the overwintering harvestmen Gyas annulatus (Phalangiidae,Opiliones)

Juvenile harvestmen Gyas annulatus overwinter in dormancy in hypogean habitats for 4–5 months. The ultrastructure of the autophagic structures in their midgut epithelium cells was studied by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) during this non-feeding period. Before overwintering (November), autophagic structures were scarce. In the middle (January) and at the end of overwintering (March), phagophores, autophagosomes and autolysosomes were present in the cytoplasm of both the secretory and the digestive midgut epithelium cells, gradually increasing their abundance during overwintering. In addition, vacuolization of the cytoplasm intensified. Both processes are induced by starvation. Autophagic structures and cytoplasm vacuolization enable the reuse of the cell's own components required for the maintenance of vital processes during dormancy. While TEM is a much more convenient method for recognition of the autophagic structure types and their ultrastructure, IFM enables exact counting of these structures.