The Occurrence of Barium and Strontium in Insects

Abstract

SummaryBarium and strontium may be detected histochemically by the formation of reddish compounds following the treatment of tissues with sodium rhodizonate. Calcium does not appear to react under the neutral conditions employed in the test. Treatment with chromate inhibits the reaction with barium, but not with strontium, providing a means for distinguishing between these elements. Permanent histological sections can bc produced in the usual manner, so long as a neutral fixative is employed.Both barium and strontium were detected in the tissues of many insects. They occurred most frequently in the malpighian tubules, less often in the midgut and reproductive organs, and very occasionally in the hindgut and fat body. It is probable that both elements are absorbed in the midgut of most insects. The distribution of barium and strontium was characteristic for each species. When staining occurred it was almost always of granules, which frequently had a characteristically restricted distribution within the cell. Nucleoli stained occasionally, although the remainder of the nucleus seldom reacted.The possible importance of barium and strontium in insect metabolism is discussed. However, the granules detected are regarded as being either reserves for future use or as a form of storage excretion.

Structure and permeability of goblet cell tight junctions in rat small intestine

“…Since the ionic lanthanum marker might be displaced by diffusion during fixation, dehydration and embedment, we also utilized the barium rhodinozate technique which permits tissue examination within 35 rain of barium exposure and within 1-2 min of rhodinozate labeling [6,38]. Like ionic lanthanum, ionic barium selectively penetrated the paracellular space surrounding goblet cells.…”

“…Since processing for electron microscopy probably leaches ionic tracers from the tissues and may create diffusion artifacts, we also exposed tissue to Ba 2+ which, after brief fixation, can be precipitated as a rhodinozate salt and observed immediately by light microscopy [6,38]. Everted sacs containing Buffer A and 10 mM glucose in the serosal compartment were suspended in an oxygenated solution composed of 90 mM BaCI2, 5 mM CaClz and 10 mM mannitol at pH 7.4 for 15 rain.…”

Biological Monitoring of Heavy Metal Pollution

“…These variations between the invertebrate groups also occurred in the control site. cadmium in crickets and spiders (Van Hook and Yates, 1975), lead in Collembola (Joose and Buker, 1979), zinc in flies and spiders (Breymeyer and Odum, 1972), chromium in crickets (Van Hook and Crossley, 1969), tungsten in crickets and milkweed bugs (Kaye and Crossley, 1968); and the studies of Waterhouse (1951), Simkiss (1976) Simkiss and Wilbur (1977), and Jeantet et al (1977) suggest that many metals may be found in similar storage organelles throughout a wide range of invertebrate groups. These authors concluded that concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium were higher in invertebrates from contaminated sites, that concentrations of these metals were higher in phytophages than producers and also in 'zoo phages of the first order', and that selected organisms may 'indicate the contamination of areas varying in intensity and pressure rate of industrial pollution'.…”

Environmental-Friendly Contamination Assessment of Habitats Based on the Trace Element Content of Dragonfly Exuviae

“…In the case of insects, Ba and Sr occur most frequently in the malpighian tubules, less often in the midgut and reproductive organs, and very occasionally in the hindgut and fat body. Both elements may be absorbed in the midgut of most insects [42]. Cr is also an essential micronutrient for the normal energy metabolism of humans and animals, and Cr can control the metabolism of glucose and lipids [43].…”