Digestive cells in the midgut of Triatoma vitticeps (Stal, 1859) in different starvation periods

Abstract

Triatoma vitticeps (Stal, 1859) is a hematophagous Hemiptera that, although being considered wild, can be found in households, being a potential Chagas' disease vector. This work describes the histology and ultrastructure of the midgut of T. vitticeps under different starvation periods. Fifteen adults of both sexes starved for 3, 7, 20 and 25 days were studied. In general, digestive cells had apical microvilli, basal plasma membrane infoldings and central nucleus. The perimicrovillar membrane was found in all insects examined. Digestive cells of anterior midgut had lipid droplets, glycogen granules, developed basal labyrinth associated with mitochondria suggesting their role in nutrient storage and in fluid and ion transport. The cells of median and posterior regions of the midgut were rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, vesicles and granules with different electron-densities. Moreover, cells of the posterior portion of the midgut had hemozoyn granules and mitochondria in the apical cytoplasm close to microvilli, suggesting their role in blood digestion and active nutrient absorption. The midgut of T. vitticeps showed differences in digestive cells associated with the time after feeding, and the increase of vesicles amount in long starvation periods, which suggests enzyme storage, which is readily used after a blood meal.

Effects of neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on midgut cells of predatory larvae Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás, 1911) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

“…Spherites or spherocrystals are associated with absorption, transport and storage of organic and inorganic elements, which could be utilized on demand for metabolic process in the midgut epithelial cells as observed in D. saccharalis by Pinheiro et al (2008), in Brontocoris tabidus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) by Fialho et al (2009), in Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) by Azevedo et al (2009), in Triatoma vitticeps (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) by Rocha et al (2010) and Euroleon nostras (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) by Lipovšek et al (2012).…”

Ecological patterns of blood-feeding by kissing-bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

“…The physiological approach to the study of kissingbugs -The physiological approach is likely the best developed and the following presents the variety of topics that are particularly well studied in kissing-bugs: extreme starvation and recovery (Wigglesworth 1982), action of digestive cells (Rocha et al 2010), changes in haemolymph serotonin levels (Lange et al 1989), intestinal erythrocyte agglutination (Araujo et al 2009), nutritionally essential amino acids (Pickett & Friend 1965), metabolic pathways for dietary lipids (Canavoso et al 2004), salivary secretion during feeding (Friend & Smith 1971, Ribeiro & Garcia 1980, 1981, Barbosa et al 1999, Faudry et al 1999, Sant'Anna et al 2001, Andersen et al 2005, Soares et al 2006, release of CO 2 following feeding (Bradley et al 2003), temperature-induced responses, CO 2 and other compounds in host search (Smith & Friend 1972, Taneja & Guerin 1997, Canals et al 1999, Otálora-Luna et al 2004, Barrozo & Lazzari 2006, the effect of gorging stimulation on different compounds (Friend 1965, Friend & Smith 1971, 1982, Smith & Friend 1976 and humoral factors transmitted to the brain (Mulye & Davey 1995), the effects of diet composition on ecdysis (Azambuja et al 1993), the influence of nutrition on immune responses (Feder et al 1997), fat body reserves (Canavoso & Rubiolo 1998) and haemolymph (Paz et al 1988), pressures produced in the pharyngeal pump (Bennet-Clark 1963a), proteolytic enzymes in the midgut (Garcia & Guimarães 1979), and the relationship between feeding and respiration (Cirano & Zeledón 1964).…”

Investigation of midgut's ultrastructure of Notonecta viridis Decourt, 1909 and Notonecta maculata Fab., 1794 (Hemiptera:Notonectidae)

“…Glycogen granules and spherical crystals weren't able to mark which were observed before [7,8]. Ferritin granules and large lysosomal bodies weren't detected either as mentioned by Taha et al [20].…”

“…Several authors [7,8,10,[14][15][16][17][18] reported the existence of enterocytes cells responsible for absorption which were observed in the midgut of N. maculata and N. viridis. The nucleus of N. maculata enterocyte cells are quite large and smooth and cover a large portion of the cell as indicated by Fialho et al, Hung et al [8,15].…”