The salivary secretion of spinning larvae ofRhynchosciara americana

Summary The secretion present at the lumen of the salivary glands of spinning larvae ofRhynchosciara americana was studied cytochemically and with microspectrophotometry and fluorescence and quantitative polarization microscopy. It was found that structural proteins, including glycoproteins and lipoproteins, occur in this secretion. Findings involving spectral absorption profiles after xylidine ponceau staining, patterns of birefringence and dispersion of birefringence, and lack of dichroism after xylidine ponceau staining and of blue fluorescence after ANS staining are highly suggestive that the secretion ofR. americana differs from classical silks not only in terms of composition but also of macromolecular array. The silk secretion ofR. americana also appears to differ from that of another sciarid,Bradysia spatitergum. Part of the glycoproteins present at the glandular lumen is assumed to be extruded from cells of the posterior zone of the glands, whereas other glycoproteins (or their glycidic radicals) are probably removed from fat body cells via cells of the anterior zone of the glands. The salivary secretion of the spinning larvae ofR. americana contains calcium and is devoid of acid glycosaminoglycans.