title: Structure and function of the extraembryonic membrane persisting around the larvae of the parasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps.
abstract: The embryo of Toxoneuron nigriceps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) is surrounded by an extraembryonic membrane, which, at hatching, releases teratocytes and gives rise to a cell layer embedding the body of the 1st instar larva. This cell layer was studied at different developmental times, from soon after hatching up to the first larval moult, in order to elucidate its ultrastructural, immunocytochemical and physiological function. The persisting "larval serosa" shows a striking structural and functional complexity: it is a multifunctional barrier with protective properties, limits the passage of macromolecules and it is actively involved in the enzymatic processing and uptake of nutrients. The reported results emphasizes the important role that the embryo-derived host regulation factors may have in parasitism success in Hymenoptera koinobionts.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale, Università dell'Insubria, via Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy. annalisa.grimaldi@uninsubria.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caccia
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Congiu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tettamanti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivas-Pena
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perletti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valvassori
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giordana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falabella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pennacchio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Eguileor
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010539:Permeability; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure