ABSTRACT
Acid phosphatase activity (Gömori technique) in salivary gland cells was investigated in adult insects (males and females) of four species of triatomines: Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus, Rhodnius neglectus, and Rhodnius prolixus. Binucleated cells with bulky and polyploidy nuclei were detected, with acid phosphatase activity in the heterochromatin and nucleolus, which showed the most intense response. Thus, the activity of these phosphatases during rRNA molecule transcription, possibly in the nucleolar fibrillar center, is suggested. The difference in reactivity found among salivary glands is associated with the cellular metabolism of these regions and, probably, with the biosynthesis of their different secretions. This must be essential in maintaining the hematophagy of triatomines
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Female , Acid Phosphatase/metabolism , Cell Nucleus/enzymology , Salivary Glands/enzymology , Triatominae/enzymology , Salivary Glands/cytologyABSTRACT
The alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH) activity in flight muscles of Panstrongylus megistus and Triatoma sordida, vectors of Chagas disease in Brazil, was studied. Both species showed higher enzymatic activities in fliers than in non-fliers insects. T. sordida exhibited a higher proportion of flier insects than P. megistus. A possible role of alpha-GPDH on triatomines flight is discussed.
Subject(s)
Animals , Flight, Animal/physiology , Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Insect Vectors/enzymology , Muscles/enzymology , Triatominae/enzymology , Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase/physiology , Panstrongylus/enzymology , Triatoma/enzymologyABSTRACT
Foi estudado o comportamento bioquímico energético de populaçöes domiciliadas de Panstrongylus megistus de quatro regiöes geográficas brasileiras (Regiäo Tropical Atlântica, Regiäo Floresta de Inclusäo, Regiäo do Agreste e Regiäo da Caatinga), através dos seguintes parâmetros do metabolismo energético: Proteínas, Glicose, Deidrogenase láctica, Creatino-quinase e respectivas isoenzimas. Os espécimens foram mantidos em jejum de 0 a 90 dias. Foram observadas diferenças de metabolismo energético entre populaçöes de duas regiöes: Tropical Atlântica (Grupo I) e Floresta de Inclusäo (Grupo II)