title: The effect of diet on the ultrastructure of the mid-gut cells of Nasonia vitripennis (Walk.) (Insecta: Hymenoptera) at various ages.
abstract: The ultrastructure of mid-gut cells of female Nasonia fed on a diet of 10% sterile sucrose is described. There are extensive alterations in cell organelles, particularly the mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum (R.E.R.) and lipid inclusions, when compared to similar insects fed a normal diet of dipteran pupae. A proportion of the mitochondria found in the apical cell region are enlarged in size and contain electron-dense granules. The remaining mitochondria are smaller, but also contain electron-dense granules. Cytochrome-c oxidase activity appears to be absent from the enlarged mitochondria. The R.E.R. appears reduced in many cells of the 1 day old, sugar-fed insects, however, this component fluctuates throughout the remaining life span. The lipid inclusions prominent in the 1 day old, pupae-fed insects are not present in sucrose-fed females of the same age, but lipid deposition was recorded later in the life span. There are many large residual bodies and cytolysosomes present in the old, sugar-fed insects. These changes in ultrastructure are discussed in relation to diet and longevity.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004032:Diet; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007422:Intestines / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008055:Lipids; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013395:Sucrose
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D013395:Sucrose; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV