Staining Whole Mounts of an Insect (Tribolium confusum) Reproductive System for Succinic Dehydrogenase and nonspecific esterase

The female reproductive system of Tribolium confusum was dissected in a salt solution containing NaC1, 9 gm; KC1, 0.42 gm; and CaC1₂, 0.25 gm per liter and fixed in 1% CaC1₂-10% formol, both at 0-4 C, or air dried. Staining was by standard histochemical procedures. Selective intensity of enzyme activity was as follows: dehydrogenase was predominant in the ovarioles; esterase, in the lateral oviducts. The use of iodoacetic acid and L600 as inhibitors suppressed the dehydrogenase and nonspecific esterase activity, respectively.