title: The larval midgut of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): light and electron microscopy studies of the epithelial cells.
abstract: The morphology of the midgut epithelium cells of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) larvae is described by light and transmission electron microscopy. The midgut of A. gemmatalis is the largest portion of the digestive tract, with three distinct regions: proximal, media and distal. Its wall is formed by pseudostratified columnar epithelial tissue having four cell types: columnar, goblet, regenerative, and endocrine cells. The columnar cells are numerous and long, with the apical portion showing many lengthy microvilli and the basal portion invaginations forming a basal labyrinth. The goblet cells have a large goblet-shaped central cavity delimited by cytoplasmic projections filled with mitochondria. The regenerative cells present electron-dense cytoplasm and few organelles. The endocrine cells are characterized by electron-dense secretory granules, usually concentrated in the cytoplasm basal region.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade do Estado de São Paulo, Rubião Júnior, CEP 18608-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. sheilalevy@laser.com.br
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: A M F
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Falleiros
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gregório
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Arrebola
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Toledo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007814:Larva / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission