Changes in the corpora allata and epidermal proliferation along the fourth instar of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans

Triatoma infestans, a blood-feeding insect, synchronises physiological mechanisms leading to moult with food intake. Since the corpora allata are important in moult and metamorphosis regulation, we have studied morphological changes in 4th instar nymphs (gland size, cell density, percent of animals showing mitoses and cell size). Changes were correlated with the effect of precocene II, epidermal proliferation, and with the extent of the [quot ]head critical period[quot ]. Based on morphological grounds, three stages can be defined in the gland along the 4th instar: Stage 1 (days 0-2 after feeding) showed small corpora allata, composed by a small number of cells, and in which mitoses were absent; Stage 2 (days 3-9) showed growing corpora allata, in which cell number was increasing and proliferation was apparent; and Stage 3 (days 10-13) showed no mitotic activity, and a sharply diminishing size of the gland, as a consequence of the diminishing size of their cells. The ability of precocene II to induce abnormal moulting disappeared during stage 2 correlating with the termination of the head critical period and suggesting that corpora allata are essential during days 3 to 5 to determine normal growth. Epidermal cell number was increasing as a consequence of more frequent mitotic activity, beginning after the finalization of the head critical period and after a first increment in the size of the gland.

Effect of juvenile hormone III on the ultrastructure of the corpora allata in Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera,. Apidae, Meliponýný)

Changes in hormonal levels can produce alternative phenotypes. Juvenile hormone III plays an importantrole in the regulation of metamorphosis, caste determination and age in bees. In this work, we examined theultrastructure of corpora allata cells from stingless bees (Melipona quadrifasciata) treated with juvenilehormone during development. The corpora allata cells of M. quadrifasciata queens showed greater activitythan those of workers. The topical application of juvenile hormone III altered the cellular ultrastructureand either delayed development (as shown by fewer mitochondria and greater chromatin condensation) orenhanced development (looser chromatin and numerous mitochondria) when compared to untreated (control)bees. Our results show that corpora allata cells differ in their ultrastructural characteristics and that thecessation of juvenile hormone production by these cells in M. quadrifasciata is not synchronous.

Action d'une alimentation a base de feuilles d'olivier [olea europea] sur la biosynthesis in vitro de la JH III par les corpora allata chez shistocerca gregaria au cours de la vitellogense

Per os administration of olive leaves [Olea europea] to females of Schistocerca gregaria results in stopping vitellogenesis. These vitellogenins are not synthesized by the fat body in the heamolymph. The vitellogenin inhibition is induced by the stopping of juvenile hormone JH III by the corpora allata. These corpora allata [Medicago sp.] synthesise 10 times less JH III than those of alfalfa fed females

Aspectos ultra-estruturais do corpus cardiacum, corpus allatum e aorta de Panstronggylus megistus (Hemiptera: reduviidae) / Ultrastructural aspects of corpus cardiacum, corpus allatum and aorta of Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Em P. megistus o corpus cardiacum e a aorta têm uma estrutura semelhante. Ambos apresentam axônios de neurônios secretores cerebrais. A presença de grânulos de neurossecreçäo e o revestimento por uma bainha conjuntiva reforçam a idéia da funçäo neurohemal da aorta. O corpus allatum mostra células de formas diferentes. Os núcleos säo volumosos e muitos deles têm nucléolos desenvolvidos. Numerosas mitocôndrias granulares e filamentosas säo vistas concentradas em determinadas regiöes das células. Os contornos das células e dos núcleos säo regulares, características de células do corpus allatum ativo