The fiber components of insect connective tissue

Connective tissue around the nerve cord and heart have been studied in Calpodes ethlius. Four components at, distinguishable by selective staining and electron microscopy: matrix, collagen fine fibrils less than 60 Å in diameter and broad fibers about 400 Å in diameter after glutaraldehyde only the broad fibers react selectively for peroxidase and stain with phosphotungstic acid. These fibers are most abundant in connective tissue which is elastic. The fine fibrils are arranged parallel to and between the peroxidase reaciive fibers. It is suggested that the peroxidase activity of the fibers may be related to their stabilization. The collagen fibers have the narrow fibrillar form characteristic of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera and have a macroperiod of about 660 Å and a banding pattern matching that found in other insects.